After a gourmet meal from a Michelin chef, you walk over to the bar for a drink, kick back with noise-canceling headphones, choose a movie to enjoy on a large screen, then lie down for a comfortable sleep.
It sounds like a stay in a boutique hotel—and in many ways it is—but this particular boutique hotel happens to be at 30,000 feet.
This is the experience on Brussels Airlines. And while you’ll find some of the airline’s most luxurious elements in Business Class, every class of service offers exquisite comfort and world-class service. Plus, flying this boutique hotel in the air offers a taste of Belgium before you even land.
The Belgian Touch There’s a lot to discover in the compact, intimate country of Belgium: grand historic buildings; cutting-edge design and cuisine; and warm, welcoming people. All of these elements come together in the Brussels Airlines experience.
The Belgian touch becomes clear as you arrive at your boutique hotel in the air, thanks to a smart-looking refresh of the planes’ interiors. Design has always played an important role in Belgian culture (check out the Calatrava-designed train station in Liege if you can), and that carries over into the airplane designs, which were inspired by Belgian Art Nouveau and extend even to the ceiling light in the boarding area.
Settle into your seat and you’ll notice the ergonomic headrest with adjustable neck support, generous recline, and rich textured fabric inspired by famous Belgian designers like Dries Van Noten. Then plug in your device to a power outlet and browse 150 hours of premium entertainment on individual touchscreens that begin at 10.1 inches.
Get another taste of your destination by sampling a Belgian beer with your meal. Traveling with kids? They’ll be in for a fun surprise—children’s meals are served in unique boxes decorated with an iconic Belgian family: the Smurfs.
Increase your comfort level by upgrading. The Premium Economy cabin, for example, includes just 21 seats, helping to ensure a quiet flight. These seats feature 23% more legroom than economy, a seat recline that’s 56% more than economy, an expanded armrest, and an HD 13.3-inch entertainment screen.
Get Down to Business For even more relaxation, fly Brussels Airlines’ Business Class, where you can cocoon yourself in what feels like your own private room (you can even choose a “double” room if you’re traveling with a companion). You’ll also find plenty of storage space and adjustable lighting, including a reading light and a lamp.
Belgium’s flavors come to the forefront when it’s time to dine, thanks to Brussels Airlines’ innovative gastronomy program. Every year, the airline partners with one of Belgium’s Michelin-starred chefs to create truly exceptional onboard meals. For 2019, that chef is Thierry Theys, of the two-Michelin-star restaurant Nuance; he’s creating seasonal menus with dishes like beef cheek à l’orange and crispy duck salad.
Enjoy your meal with fine wines or Belgian beer—you can also drop by the unique walkup bar anytime to help yourself. (And look up—the bar’s illuminated dome was inspired by the glass ceiling of Antwerp’s Central Station.)
Then don your noise-canceling headphones and choose from a wide variety of programming on the 15.6-inch HD touchscreens (in six languages!). When it’s time to sleep, stretch out on your six-foot, lie-flat seat, where you can even customize the softness of your seat cushion.
And when you land, don’t forget your box of Neuhaus chocolates—the first of many fine Belgian chocolates you’ll likely experience on your trip.
Photo by Libby Penner
Stay a While If your final destination is elsewhere, consider stopping over in Belgium. You’re never more than a two-hour train trip from anywhere, so it’s easy to explore not only Brussels but other iconic cities like Antwerp and Bruges. With Brussels Airlines’ Stop Over program, you can have an adventure en route to or from your final destination. Just book your flights on Brussels Airlines and include a stay of up to five nights in Belgium—you’ll even get free access to museums and sites throughout the country.
This is all part of the Belgian touch—an experience crafted to make your trip as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Experience Brussels Airlines and you’ll understand why it’s truly a boutique hotel in the sky.
Experience unforgettable Belgium and arrive in style. Book your Brussels Airlines flight today.
