Review Time
Brussels South (Charleroi) Airport is not in Brussels, but it is one hour south of the capital, so I suppose the name is not entirely misleading. In every other respect, however, it is the worst airport in Western Europe, if not the entire continent. The worst aspects are: the crazy prices for parking and the fact that some of the cheaper parkings have no shuttle service to the terminals, which means you have to walk, often in the rain; the horrible, uninviting facilities in the dark, sombre, uninviting, hovel that describes itself as the terminal buildings; the fact that you have to pay €1.00 (card only, no cash) to use the toilets including in the baggage reclaim zone (once you're airside they're free so go there as soon as you disembark); and the rude and useless staff at security. Where else do you have to stand in line for upwards of an hour? The staff are rude and unhelpful. Frankly, you are better off travelling from any other airport in Belgium. If enough people start to boycott Brussels South airport, maybe the cheap airlines that use it (Ryanair, Wizz, etc) might put pressure on the owners to make the place less of a dump and instead the pleasant place it should be to start your trip.
I was on flight FR4629 from Brussels Charleroi to Stockholm, originally scheduled for 18:35 but delayed to 19:35. My journey began in Istanbul with a connection through Brussels. Due to delays on my previous flight, I arrived in Brussels around 18:00. Baggage claim took almost 40 minutes, leaving me with very little time for my connecting flight. I had no prior notification from my airline about the check-in deadline for passengers with checked baggage. Given the delay, I rushed to Terminal 2. At security, I realized my hand luggage had liquids over 100 ml. While going through security, a male officer made repeated, unnecessary comments about my lateness, even though the flight was delayed. When I explained that the delay was out of my control, he rudely pointed at his watch and said, “I don’t care, you’re late.” His tone was disrespectful and unprofessional, especially in such a stressful situation. The situation escalated verbally instead of being de-escalated. His focus seemed to be on arguing rather than performing his job properly. When my liquids were taken, my sister asked politely if there were any alternatives instead of throwing them away. A female staff member shouted, “Yeah, only one — in the bin,” which made several staff members laugh at us. This was humiliating and unacceptable behavior towards passengers. We tried to inquire again about alternatives since my sister works at an airport and knows that some items can be sent to the destination airport. The same female staff member then shouted “Yes, but 20 euros,” while pointing at the products, prompting more laughter from the staff. I questioned whether she was mocking us, and she aggressively raised her voice, calling me “Lady.” I was then presented with a form demanding 20 euros per item, which contradicts standard practices at other airports. I refused and asked them to dispose of the items, yet I was still pressured to sign and pay. This insistence was both inappropriate and unreasonable. What concerns me most is that the staff were more focused on arguing than actually performing their security duties. In fact, over 10 liquid items exceeding 100 ml were completely overlooked, raising serious questions about their professionalism and attention to safety. I have never encountered such disrespectful and unprofessional behavior at any airport. The lack of basic human respect shown by this staff is profoundly disappointing, especially in 2026, particularly from the male officer and the female staff member who ridiculed and shouted at passengers. Due to this experience, I will avoid traveling through Brussels Charleroi Airport in the future and will share my experience with others planning to travel through CRL.
I am appalled that 50 km from Brussels, there is this 'airport' where you get wet moving between terminals, have to pay to use the restroom, and there are no luggage trolleys. However, they do ask about non-binary status when logging in for WiFi. When I expressed my frustration, the staff member at the information desk told me she wouldn’t yell at me in my own country. Well, in my country (also part of the EU, just not near Brussels), we have trolleys at airports. Shame on you for this experience!
I was taken aback to find such a 'so-called airport' 50 km from Brussels, where moving between terminals means getting wet in the rain, paying to use the restroom, and lacking trolleys for luggage. Interestingly, they inquire about non-binary status when accessing WiFi. When I expressed my frustration, the staff member at the information desk remarked that she wouldn’t shout at me in my own country. In my country, which is also part of the EU but not near Brussels, we have trolleys at airports. Shame on this airport!
There was chaos, with insufficient space for all travelers, filthy restrooms, and a fee of 1 euro to use the toilets upon arrival! Long walks along the tarmac, even in the rain, and unfriendly service made for a terrible experience. Avoid this airport.
I arrived at the airport at 6:45, well ahead of my flight, but the experience was frustrating from the beginning. The security lines were chaotic and excessively long, making the process stressful. Despite arriving early, I faced a slow and tense passage through security. After finally getting through, I mistakenly followed misleading signs that led to the exit instead of the departure gates. A security officer yelled at me when I tried to return, and the staff showed no willingness to help. I ended up missing my flight due to poor organization and unhelpful staff. This airport needs significant improvements in signage, queue management, and staff training.
This airport has very poor quality, unable to handle the traffic it receives. There are long lines and too many passengers for the infrastructure, forcing people to sit on the ground. The shops are overpriced and the food quality is low. Despite being advised to arrive three hours early, I still faced issues with security. This is not what one expects from a developed country.
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