Thanks Shamrock! Enjoy BRU, you are so lucky 😀

Once we were over the sea, the cloud thickened.

An inflight view.

But as we approached land, the cloud thinned out.

Over the continent.

As we approached BRU, the Captain wished everyone a Merry Christmas. At 15:55 we landed on 25L and taxied to the terminal. It was nice and bright in BRU.

Thankfully, our luggage had travelled with us (unlike when we flew on BA last Christmas) and we went to have some tea. Our favourite café, Brussels Café, was closed, and so we ended up at Pizza Hut for a disgusting pizza (not nice when you had hoped for nachos with a dip). We bought a couple of cans of Jupiler to have when we got to Brugge, and then headed into what very quickly turned into a nightmare.

At the entrance to the airport railway station was a sign warning of disruptions owing to a strike, but as the trains from the airport were running OK, we were not too worried at this point. We planned to change trains at Noord station, as we always do.

On the way into Brussels, the ticket collector warned us that problems were worst on the trains serving Brugge, and many people had been left stranded. At this point we were getting worried, if we could not get to Brugge then we would have to try and find accommodation elsewhere, which could be impossible on Christmas Eve.

When we reached Noord, there were people milling everywhere. Most trains looked to be running, but the train we would have caught – one to Oostende – was affected. We were not happy! Then, by a stroke of luck, I noticed a Knokke/Blankenberge train scheduled for 18:23, showing a platform number, unlike the cancelled Oostende one, so we hoped and prayed that this train would arrive.

It did arrive, but for some reason, most of the doors would not open, so we had a tense dash down the platform to find a working door just in time. Thankfully the train got us to Brugge and we had a very nice stay in Hotel Patritius, a fantastic meal in Lange Muur, some nice chips, hot chocolate and jenever coffee, Delirium Christmas beer, Sloeber and Palm Dobbel, a trip to Oostende and a trip to Zeebrugge with a meal in Old Barrel. It was a fantastic Christmas and we will do it again next year.

My views on bmi: very positive. The flight attendant was very pleasant, efficient and professional. The aircraft was nice, the flight in good time. The only negative being that the pilot gave no idea how long the flight would last, the conditions along the way or the weather we could expect on landing. I would certainly fly with them again.

Thanks Andy, that’s a big help to know there would be no probs with desk check in.

bmi seem a decent airline, their customer service has been good so far.

Thanks aidoair. Online would be a problem for me the night before because I’ll not be at home to get on my computer. If I know I can check in at the airport that’s better.

Sorry but you’re contradicting yourself. On one hand you’re saying it’s the standard thing to check in two hours before unless you are checking in online or are flying long haul, then on the other you said that you knew that not all airlines operated to the two hour restriction.

When we flew VLM from BRU in 2002 we were able to check in several hours before departure. It’s much easier that way rather than dragging three cases round with you for several hours when you have normally been able to check in on arrival at the airport.

Thanks again for comments.

I was pleased to get the Dornier, that is the first time I’ve bagged a decent shot of one, and you see lots at LCY. I can’t wait to fly from there again.

The white VLM hybrid is certainly different, I have only seen one other (OO-VLL at MAN a couple of years ago). I can’t say I’m too keen, the white and gold on the tail look a bit pale, I prefer more blue.

Thanks Cloud_9. VLM are as good as when we first flew with them, they have maintained their high standards when other airlines have let theirs slip.

I really can recommend them. Will post the return report soon.