Ride-app pickup uses the designated Level 1 parking/ground-transportation area. Exit baggage claim and follow the app's assigned zone; special events can temporarily relocate pickup.
FAA rank #39 · Medium hub
MSYNew Orleans
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International
Verified September 1, 2026
The short answer
MSY is easy inside; New Orleans event traffic is the wildcard. Check for temporary pickup rules, and use the $12 Economy Garage only after adding the shuttle cycle to your plan.
Arrival planner
When should I be at MSY?
Enter the departure time shown on your ticket.
Recommended airport arrival—:—
Enter your departure time
We’ll work backward from the airport’s recommendation.
2 hours before departure
This is your airport arrival time—not the time to leave home. Airline check-in and bag-drop cutoffs still apply.
Security peakEarly mornings, Thursday through Monday, cruise days, Mardi Gras and major-event periods
01
Security
What you’re walking into
MSY uses a central checkpoint for its connected concourses. Festival, cruise, and holiday traffic can create sharp surges even when the terminal itself is straightforward.
Check live security wait times before leaving ↗TSA PreCheck● Yes
CLEAR● Yes
Global Entry● Yes
Mobile Passport● Yes
02
Official parking
What it costs
Economy Garage$12/day24/7 shuttle with 15-minute ride guarantee
Surface Lot$20/day
Long Term$22/dayCovered
Short Term$26/dayCovered; first 30 minutes free
Valet$36/day
03
Ground transportation
Don’t stand at the wrong curb
The consolidated Rental Car Facility is off-terminal and served by free airport shuttles from the ground-transportation level.
MSY has one terminal with Concourses A, B, and C connected after the central checkpoint; no train or terminal shuttle is needed for ordinary connections.
A free cell-phone lot is available for attended vehicles waiting for arriving passengers.
04
Airport essentials
Everything else worth knowing
Free Wi-Fi● Yes
USO lounge● Yes
Pet relief● Yes
EV chargingCharging spaces are available on Level 1 of the Economy Garage and in selected close-in facilities.
SmokingSmoking and vaping are prohibited inside the terminal.
OvernightMSY is open 24 hours daily, including holidays, but overnight services are limited.
Sources & freshness
Trust the facts. Check the source.
Verified September 1, 2026. Time-sensitive details can change without notice.
MSY security checkpoint↗MSY official parking↗MSY economy parking↗MSY ground transportation↗MSY airport information↗