Review of Brussels Airlines flight Brussels Kigali in Economy

Airline Brussels Airlines
Flight sn471
Class Economy
Seat 41A
Aircraft Airbus A330-200
Flight time 09:55
Take-off 15 Nov 17, 10:55
Arrival at 15 Nov 17, 21:50
SN   #88 out of 96 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 269 reviews
oliver92
By 2502
Published on 15th November 2018

Reports of flights to Africa are rare, I offer you one, with a flight with Brussels Airlines. The destination is Kigali A line that has already been subject 2 flight report, including one by me

Several possibilities to get to Kigali via Europe: Brussels Airlines and Rwandair live, Ethiopian Airlines (via Milan and Addis Ababa), Klm (via Amsterdam), Qatar Airways (via Doha). The options are not lacking! Especially since Rwandair entered the market for London

Historically, this Brussels-Kigali line has a long history since Sabena, which is one of SN's most important African destinations (given the powerful Rwandan diasparo in Belgium).


A month before, I realize that the Ethiopian offers the most interesting offer (550 €), 200th less than the competition. A good price especially that the rates in high season is 1000 €, but I decided to go even further and I remember that SN offers more attractive rates from CDG. I come across a CDG-BRU-KGL for 425 €! I reserve in stride!



I come from a flight SN3634 from Paris CDG, I'm back in Belgium (after taking the Brussels-North / Paris CDG bus)
At the time of this photo It at this time 9:55 am, an hour before my flight to Kigali scheduled at 10:55, but a lot of people are in correspondence and a line is present in front of the PAF.
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vthe boarding gate is located at T74, at the end of this beautiful terminal

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A330 For Douala and Yaoundé…
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Really many people for Dakar. Boarding begins…

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A lounge called "Business Lounge" is proposed at the end of the terminal, It is certainly less popular and offers fewer offers than "The Loft", but it is next to the African doors

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I do not have time to sit down, boarding has already started and I am very excited to return home after 4 years

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Entebbe is a stop for kigali

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Like my previous flight from Paris CDG, the plane I am taking is a "new" from Brussels Airlines, since it is the 00-SFT that joined the fleet at the beginning of 2017.
The aircraft passed under the colors of Swiss and Edelweiss Air before joining the Belgian airline.
The Jetbriges are not blind, I take the opportunity to make the pictures of our device of the day. A simple letter on the nose of the aircraft suffices for the registration number, here "T", for OO-SFT

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Meanwhile, we move slowly. Behind me, a group of French people leaving for Uganda are talking about cars (more specifically the PSA group) … I will be well joined in the conversation, but I photograph the 332 for the report…

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the longest satellite of the airport certainly in T74…

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Newspapers are available at the end of the bridge. Le Soir for the French-speaking Belgian press and Het Last Nieuws for that of the north of the country, which was in a (short) victory of the red devils the day before Japan in a friendly match 1-0. The Financial Times is also available to choose

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Our plane is ready to travel the 6220 km that separate Zaventem from Kampala Entebbe (former capital of Uganda)

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I get on the plane at 10:25, then I go to the economy by privilege Economy

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That's when I realize that this is not the place I had booked the day before on the website of SN for online registration (or 25 euros when booking). I find myself in 38 D, while I had to reserve the right porthole of 37H, damn I think that the hostess of Paris plays me a trick.

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Fortunately, the plane is not filled and I head a few minutes later, a few rows behind to be able to benefit from a seat porthole (41B).

the space is correct for a person of 1m85

we receive headphones, which will be of poor quality, but that still helps in the absence of mini-jack of my smartphone to the apple
Distribution of headphones that are bad qualities but that helps in the absence of a hold on my phone at the apple

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Demonstration of safety instructions is fun !

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Safety sheet and duty free …

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the lighting instructions with the pilot light which can be controlled from the IFE …

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The time to post photos on Instagram and Twitter, as well as to present flight documents that we are already en route via runway 25 R.
See you soon Zaventem! the taxi is short and we take off at 11:15

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New OTAN buildings are visible with attention
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This moment or we set of the height
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Discovery of IFE that has changed since my last BRU-KGL. Having recently seen the report of leadership https: // flight-report.com/en/report/28892/Austrian-Airlines-OS068-Hong-Kong-HKG-Vienna-VIE, I think it's the same as Austrian Airlines (at least as far as geo-vision) is also part of Star Alliance
The screen is touch and the size is suitable. it always has a USB price on which I take the opportunity to recharge it on my phone. About thirty films are available including Batman, 30 series, 4 TV documentaries and 1 reportage on the world are not available in July.



The magazine is present on the IFE but it dates from October, against the paper format was well up to date with the speech of the CEO of SN

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the first service is before noon

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health !

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It is certain that this SN471 is not ordinary compared to this line (SN469 / 471), because it is not only the OO-SFT (whereas this path is generally realized with the 3 other A332-OO- SFY, SFU and SFZ), passes over the Alps, whereas in normal times, the road takes a much more east-facing path (see photo), but I have no reason to complain. I have a beautiful view of the Alps and I am going to Africa.


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Toulon airport after 1h07 flight, we start the Mediterranean crossing

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located at the back of the plane, the meal arrives at 12:40 spicy African fish with rice or this dish that I chose. It was good.

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I'm not a fan of red wine, but I finish the meal with that

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Turbulence appears, nothing really bad, but I will take a video of my glass a little shaken.



The (unusual) road of the day and the classic road.

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cookies
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The SN fleet in November 2017 and its beautiful special liveries, special mention for Trident and Magritte that I love!

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with the collaboration with Thomas Cook Belgium, the european network is enriched, i also benefit from having traveled that morning with one of their old 320 (OO-TCV), passed in the colors of SN

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Brussels Airlines is a popular brand in Africa…

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Mumbai to join the network successfully in March 2017 following the move of Jet Airways to Amsterdam, the day after the attacks in March 2016 (sad coincidence)

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"B Inspired" highlights the Tour of Rwanda, which lasts a week in mid-November. A very popular circuit that I did not have the chance to see despite my proximity several times … damn!

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the fight continues and we pass over the Desert

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Passenger sitting in front of me a little too busy and going to sit on his right side to stop bothering me

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A walk in the cabin and I discuss near the kitchen with a flight attendant. She will tell me that she was the first time at Akagera Park and this is the third time she has been to Rwanda. She will announce that Kigali will no longer be a stopover for SN crews (which proved true), but it will now be an entebbe.
I will make her understand the principle of FR by showing my photos, then she asks me if I am satisfied for the moment of the flight.

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a glass of whiskey, oh that goes up fast

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It was calm Wednesday in mid-November, especially in this second part of the cabin.

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resting place for the crew

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headrests are adjustable, good point for comfort

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The Niger / Chad border is crossed after 4:30 flight, you will notice that Libya is always avoided

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The flight continues peacefully and the cabin darkens quickly.

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Euronews and a satisfaction survey available

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Hi Stéphanie ;)

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Snack one hour before arrival

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The detailed information of the flight. The airport of Entebbe is located at 1153 m of attitude which suggests a rapid descent, but it is announced 40 minutes before arrival at the same time as the closure of the toilet.

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Kampala…

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Landing has 7:00 pm with only 10 minutes of delay. The time of flight was of 7:45 am compared at 7:30 am on average. A few minutes later, the captain announces that we shall stay a little on the track to be able to cross 2 planes in wait, because we have to go back up the track. The wait lasts since 7:19 pm, 19 minutes after the landing. It is necessary to say that the traffic lane was in works (see below)


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EBB is a small airport but Qatar Airways is present on the spot (with a lot of delay that day)

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left turn …

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The first time I go through Uganda to Kigali, I am surprised that the majority of passengers come here. I understand better now that this destination now connects every day against 6 times a week before.

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The cleaning crews work during the stop before boarding passengers for Brussels (triangular road)

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the cabin is clean and I return to the same place with the agreement of Stephanie…

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disinfection of the cabin

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we push back while KLM arrives from Kigali

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Takeoff at 10:16 pm local (failed photo attempt.)

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The flight time between EBB and KGL is as short as a CDG-BRU flight, no service will be performed.

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Check in time at 20:50 (21:50 local time) ,! The 15 minutes of waiting on the Ugandan track will always be a waste of time. The ads are made in English, Flemish and French respectively. As much as the landing at EBB was "calm", as much as that of Kigali was difficult after a good braking!



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view of the eco cabin, configured in 2-4-2

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Buisness…

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Last photo on this A330-200 which will have made us join Kigali without difficulty.
A Rwandair on the photo, also in A330-200 is preparing for Dubai

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In Africa, the images inside will be discreet and I will arrive at immigration or 3 options are possible, depending on whether you pay with your visa online or not, or that you have a priority. The crew of Brussels Airlines passes to our right by the fast line and will leave tomorrow

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long wait for immigration at 23:00

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Hello Kigali !

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See more

Verdict

Brussels Airlines

8.5/10
Cabin8.5
Cabin crew9.0
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Meal/catering8.5

Brussels - BRU

8.0/10
Efficiency6.0
Access7.5
Services9.5
Cleanliness9.0

Kigali - KGL

6.4/10
Efficiency4.0
Access5.5
Services6.0
Cleanliness10.0

Conclusion

Sorry for my english but good flight

The beautiful cabin and the crew did the necessary and the conversation with one of the cabin crew members was pleasant (she will also climb the note). In short, a long-haul recommendation from Brussels Airlines

The correspondence is BRU is fast but the lack of fluidity has lowered the score

Kigali airport is renovated and clean in Kigali.
On the other hand, we are still losing a lot of time because of immigration (it took me an hour to get out of the airport).

Information on the route Brussels (BRU) Kigali (KGL)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 9 avis concernant 2 compagnies sur la ligne Brussels (BRU) → Kigali (KGL).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Rwandair avec 6.9/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 8 heures et 53 minutes.

  More information

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