Review: Diamond Lounge Brussels Airport Pier B Non-Schengen

June 9, 2020February 18, 2021 Koen 0 Comments

In this review, we will check out the Diamond Lounge at Pier B (Non-Schengen flights) of Brussels Airport.

Brussels Airport

After a short, uneventful SAS flight from Oslo to Brussels I found myself in the vast concourse of Pier A of Brussels Airport, which is being used for flights within the Schengen Zone.

Brussels’ main airport of Zaventem (BRU) is usually a breeze to connect. On flight connections solely within the Schengen Area there is no security screening as you basically stay inside the concourse of Pier A at all times.

In my case, I however had to make my way to Pier B which is being used for non-Schengen flights. Apart from a long walk it was an easy transfer as there was no queue at all for passport control.

I can highly recommend the YouTube videos of Brussels Airport for those who connect for the the first time through this hub. Below is Brussels Airport’s video of the route I took. Their YouTube also has more videos explaining all other possible connections as well (such as Pier B to Pier A if coming the opposite way, which is basically the same route – but has an additional security screening).

Pier B lounges

From the arrival of my SAS flight from Oslo to the departure of my TAROM flight to Bucharest I had a total of 9 hours and 40 minutes to kill. This would of course have been plenty of time to head out of the airport and into the city of Brussels, but as I had quite some work to do I opted to stay the entire time in the lounge.

There are three business lounges in Pier B. Home carrier Brussels Airlines operates ‘The Suite’, which is the designated lounge to all Star Alliance member airlines. British Airways has a lounge as well at Brussels Airport, which is also used for those departing on a Qatar Airways flight.

Finally, there is the Diamond Lounge, which is basically being used by about every other airline operating from Pier B.

Diamond Lounge entry requirements

If you are a business class passenger or have lounge access courtesy of your frequent flyer programme, you will have complimentary access to the Diamond Lounge if this is the designated lounge of the airline you fly with.

I was flying out of Brussels on TAROM in economy class, and was granted access to the lounge courtesy of my platinum status with Air France/KLM’s Flying Blue programme (Sky Team Elite Plus).

Priority Pass members are eligible to use the Diamond Lounge as well. According to the website of Brussels Airport, paid access to the lounge is also possible. This will cost you 39 euro on the spot or 34 euro when you reserve your lounge pass in advance.

If you buy a one-time lounge pass in advance, make sure that you buy it for the right Diamond Lounge, as there is a Diamond Lounge as well in Pier A for Schengen Zone flights.

Lounge design

The non-Schengen Diamond Lounge basically is one large rectangular space, with the food and drinks buffet to be found directly at the lounge reception and the restrooms all the way in the back.

On one side of the lounge large windows overlook the tarmac, although the views are quite a bit obstructed due to the windowsill and some bars on the outside. The windows do however make the lounge feel bright and airy.

The lounge itself is not the prettiest you’ll find within Europe and has a bit of an Ikea feel to it. The interior design of the lounge is however done smartly, with objects such as plants and pillars being placed in such a way that different seating areas are created. This way, the lounge does have quite a bit of privacy and feels a bit more intimate.

There is a large array of different seats, ranging from dining tables to loungers, sofas and comfortable chairs.

pier b diamond lounge brussels airport — *The Diamond Lounge in Pier B of Brussels Airport. ©Paliparan*

diamond lounge brussels airport — *Thanks to the smart use of design elements, there is quite a bit of privacy in each sitting area. ©Paliparan*

diamond lounge brussels airport review — *Brussels Airport Diamond Lounge (Non-Schengen Pier B). ©Paliparan*

lounge seating bru — *Brussels Airport Diamond Lounge (Non-Schengen Pier B). ©Paliparan*

diamond lounge — *Brussels Airport Diamond Lounge (Non-Schengen Pier B). ©Paliparan*

Work spaces

As I had some work to do, I headed straight to the work spaces in the lounge, which offer quite a bit of privacy and seclusion as well despite being open from the side.

Thanks to the strong WiFi connection and fast internet speeds, it made for an excellent spot to get some work done on my laptop.

Even if you sit elsewhere in the Diamond Lounge this is a great location to work, as there are plenty of power sockets throughout the lounge to keep your laptop and other electronic devices charged.

brussels diamond lounge — *There are a few semi-enclosed work cubicles in the lounge. ©Paliparan*

lounge bru — *After I finished my work, I grabbed one of the chairs besides the window. ©Paliparan*

tarmac view brussels diamond lounge — *The Diamond Lounge has obstructed views of a quiet spot of the tarmac. ©Paliparan*

Lounge buffet

The Diamond Lounge has a single buffet area which can be found right in front of the reception desk. Although the food buffet isn’t exhaustive, it is good in quality – especially considering this is a third party contract lounge and not some major airline’s hub lounge.

Besides bread and pastries, cold cuts, salads, sweets and crisps and nuts, you can always find at least two hot mains at the buffet, as well as a soup. I’ve visited the Diamond Lounge a number of times and always thought the quality of the food is very good. You’ll definitely be able to get a good meal or snack here before your flight.

diamond lounge brussels food buffet — *The Diamond Lounge buffet isn’t large, but the quality of the food is good. ©Paliparan*

bru lounge buffet — *There are also plenty of cold cuts, veggies and fruits to choose from. ©Paliparan*

diamond lounge soup — *There is always a soup available in the Diamond Lounge. ©Paliparan*

curry leffe blond — *The Indian chicken curry was certainly good – especially when washed away with a Leffe Blonde from draught to accompany it! ©Paliparan*

cheese bru lounge — *If you just need a small nibble, why not make yourself a small cheese and charcuterie plate? ©Paliparan*

Drinks

There is a good choice of beverages to be found in the Diamond Lounge. Self-service fridges contain everything from bottled water to soft drinks and juices. On the counter next to it, you can find a coffee machine and a small selection of different teas.

There are also some decent wines available in the lounge, as well as sparkling wine (a rather good Vilarnau Brut Reserva cava – which is miles better than the sub-standard cava served on board my previous KLM flights).

The selection of strong alcohol is a bit more limited. It consists out of the standard mid-shelf alcohol brands such as Bombay Sapphire gin and Bacardi rum.

lounge coffee machine — *The coffee machine in the lounge makes a decent brew. ©Paliparan*

cava lounge — *A glass of cava and some salty crisps. ©Paliparan*

Beer

This being Belgium, the pride of the booze selection is of course the beer, which deserves a separate paragraph. If you like your Belgian ales, the Diamond Lounge is definitely a nice place to kill some time before your flight. Just watch out not to overindulge!

There is both Leffe Blonde and Leffe Brune from draught available, as well as plenty of bottled beers in the fridge such as Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Belle-Vue Kriek (a cherry beer). All have of course their proper glassware to pour the perfect pint.

leffe beer diamond lounge brussels airport review — *There are two small draught machines to tap your own pint of Leffe Blonde or Leffe Brune. ©Paliparan*

Shower

There are showers available in the restrooms of the Diamond Lounge. You have to report at the reception desk in order to get the keys. When I inquired about it at the end of the morning, there was no queue at all and I could enter the shower room straight away.

The shower room itself is certainly large and made for a refreshing shower during my layover, although the provided amenities were fairly basic.

In short

The Diamond Lounge at Brussels Airport is a decent-looking, comfortable place to wait for your flight and a great space if you need to do some work before boarding your plane.

The buffet is certainly not exhaustive, but the quality of the food is actually good and there is enough choice to keep everyone satisfied. As there is always a soup and at least two cooked options available, you can certainly get a good bite here before your flight. A large shower room also makes this a good lounge for those who need to refresh themselves during their layover at this airport.

Best of all is of course the beer. The Diamond Lounge does Belgium proud by offering quite a large selection of beer, including two from tap. If you seek one last quality beer before leaving the country, you will definitely not be disappointed.

Overall, I’d say that although the Diamond Lounge is not great, it certainly ranks well above average when compared to other European lounges.

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