How early do you have to be at Brussels Airport?
From when can you check in?
Arrive at Brussels Airport early enough to check in your luggage and go through security checks at your leisure. That way you'll leave stress-free.
Most airlines use the following check-in times:
- Short distances (within Shengen zone/Europe): check-in from 2h before departure
- Long hauls (outside Shengen zone/Europe): check-in from 3h before departure
For example, if you have a flight to Barcelona with a scheduled departure time of 10:00, you can get to the airport as early as 08:00. For a flight to New York departing at 10:00, we recommend being at Brussels Airport as early as 07:00.
Tip: always check the website of the airline you are flying with to find out the exact time. Sometimes there are exceptional circumstances, such as a strike, which mean it is best to arrive earlier.
Check-in deadline
When the check-in desk closes depends on the distance. Please keep these guidelines in mind:
Short-haul flight
- Economy: 60 min before departure
- Business: 40 min before departure
Long-haul flight
- Economy: 70 min before departure
- Premium economy: 70 min before departure
- Business: 60 min before departure
As mentioned earlier, we recommend arriving at Brussels Airport in Zaventem early enough to avoid missing the check-in deadline (and therefore your flight). Take into account any delays during your journey to the airport, such as traffic jams on the way, searching for a parking space, etc.
Leaving too early?
Many flights leave very early in the morning. On most days, planes take off as early as 06:00.
Most travelers find these morning flights annoying because they have to get up in the middle of the night to get to Brussels Airport on time. That problem only gets worse when you live far from the airport.
The solution? Imperia Short Stay's Park, Sleep & Fly formula.
Book 1 overnight stay (the night before departure) in one of our apartments located just 5 min from the terminal . This way you can sleep just a little longer and go to the check-in desk in peace.
Moreover, you can park your car for free for 7 days at Imperia Short Stay. So you save parking fees. Convenient, right?
Check prices and availability now using the button below: