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Cheap flights to New Orleans
| Popular in | April | High demand for flights, 13% potential price rise |
| Cheapest in | September | Best time to find cheap flights, 3% potential price drop |
| Average price | $301 | Average for round-trip flights in April 2020 |
| Round-trip from | $27 | From New York to New Orleans |
Cheapest Prices for New Orleans flights by month
When is the best time to fly to New Orleans?
Choose a month below to see average flight price and weather conditions.
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NYC - MSY Price
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$162 - $305
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MSY Temperature
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66.2 - 91.4 °F
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MSY Rainfall
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3.27 - 7.8 inches
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Peak Season:
February through April is the peak season with the best weather and the city’s two biggest events, Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. Book your New Orleans flights and hotel reservations at least six months in advance.
Off Season:
September and October tend to have good weather. The oppressive heat and humidity of summer even drives some of the residents away from the city, but you can find cheap hotels and flights to New Orleans.
The damp cold of winter does not attract many visitors, and low rates can be found.
Why you should take a flight to New Orleans
What’s the first thing you’ll notice after your trip to New Orleans? A city draped in vibrant colors and people dancing in the streets. The sounds of BB King, Winston Marsalis and Ella Fitzgerald make their way through the Big Easy as people pack the open-air restaurants and cafes in the French Quarter. It can only be New Orleans, and the journey to the most “unique city in America” starts on the New Orleans flight.
Despite the heartache it suffered on August 29, 2005, New Orleans has not lost its heart. Hurricane Katrina destroyed 80 percent of the city, but the New Orleans spirit prevailed. Beyond the depths of destruction was the music that for centuries kept this city alive. Today, tourists book flights to New Orleans to participate in the revival of one America’s most beloved cities.
Book airline tickets to New Orleans to see the beautiful architecture that still remains in the French Quarter of the city. Vacation in New Orleans for a taste of the Cajun cuisine that makes this city famous. Book New Orleans flights and hotel rooms to support the people – they stayed, they survived and they continue to provide the music, food and festivities that keep people traveling to New Orleans every year.
When is the best time to book flights to New Orleans?
To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight to New Orleans, you should look to book at least 17 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.
Which day is cheapest to fly to New Orleans?
At the moment, Tuesday is the most economical day to take a flight to New Orleans. Friday is likely to be the most costly.
What time of day is cheapest to fly?
New Orleans flights can be made cheaper if you choose a flight in the afternoon. Booking a flight in the morning will likely mean higher prices.
How long is the flight to New Orleans?
The average flight times to New Orleans varies with different cities. Non-stop flights from New York take roughly 3h 15m, while flights departing from Los Angeles take 3h 40m. Flight times from Chicago range from 2h – 2h 20m for non-stop flights, while flights from Atlanta to New Orleans take around 1h 30m.
Where can you get direct flights to New Orleans from?
You can get direct flights to New Orleans from more than four dozen cities across the US, including Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Tampa and Washington DC. Some of the airlines servicing non-stop flights to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans include jetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, American Airlines, and Allegiant Air.
How do you get from New Orleans airport(s) to the city center?
Set 11 miles from the city center, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport provides different ground transportation options. You’ll find taxis located outside the baggage reclaim area on the first level. Buses also depart from the airport every 20 to 40 minute with bus pickup points situated outside Entrance 7 on the upper level (Concourse C Lobby Information Booth). Ride-sharing apps provide an increasingly popular option. You can use either Lyft or Uber to get a ride to your location. For a more luxurious drive, A-Airport Limousine provides transportation services, with service kiosks conveniently located in the Baggage claim area. Alternatively, if you prefer to drive, you can opt to rent a car. The car renting facility is situated close to the main terminal, down a covered walkway from the baggage claim exit.
What are some things to do in New Orleans?
A popular tourist destination, the city of New Orleans is famous for its infectious spirit, streetcars, jazz scene, rich cuisine, and distinct culture. A tour through the French Quarter ranks high on almost any tourist to-do list. One of the oldest in the state, the French Quarter is home to art galleries, restaurants, museums, and street performers. Swing by this historic St Louis Cathedral or visit Bourbon Street at night to experience the best of the city’s nightlife. Situated within City Park, the New Orleans Museum of Art makes an appealing destination for art enthusiasts and is conveniently located close to the Sydney and Wanda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Nature lovers can go hiking at the Barataria Preserve or enjoy a guided tour with a park ranger. New Orleans also hosts over a hundred festivals and parades through the year, the biggest of which is arguably the Mardi Gras parade.
Do I need a passport or visa to fly to New Orleans?
A visa isn’t required to fly to New Orleans. Visa requirements only apply to non-US citizens. Although a passport isn’t technically mandatory for a domestic visit to New Orleans, traveling with one is recommended. The Transportation Security Administration requires that all adult travelers present government-issued photo identification such as U.S passport, military ID, or driver’s license at airport checkpoints.
New Orleans climate
New Orleans can be hot and muggy in the summer. Summer temperatures are well into the 90s (Fahrenheit), the humidity oppressive, and there are occasional thunderstorms. September and October often have clear, mild days. Winter is short, overcast, and chilly. Temperatures are usually in 50s, but can drop and, combined with the dampness, make for a cold day. Spring is delightful with sunny, mild days. The city gets plenty of rain, about 60 inches a year. The hurricane season is June to September.
Getting around New Orleans
New Orleans has a great public bus system and the oldest streetcar service in the country, which has been designated a National Historic Monument. The buses are the cheapest way to get around, but they can be slow. Vintage St Charles streetcars can take you uptown while the Riverfront streetcar runs along the Mississippi River for two miles. Make sure you have exact change for the buses and streetcars. You can also get VisiTour passes that offer one to three days of unlimited rides on the streetcars and buses. The best way to get around at night is by hailing or calling for a cab. There are plenty of taxis to be found, and a metered ride won’t cost you much. If you want to take a tour of New Orleans, try hiring a cab to take you and up to four of your friends around the city. Head out on the water aboard the Canal Street Ferry for a great view of New Orleans’ skyline. The ferry is free for pedestrians and will take you out to suburban Algiers. It’s easy to drive in the city, but parking is another story.
New Orleans Travel Information
- The French Market is a farmer’s market which sells everything from canned alligator and chocolates to hot sauce. It’s a good place to pick up souvenirs.
- Julia Street is a well-kept secret. The 600 block has 13 mid-19th-century townhouses called Julia Row or the Thirteen Sisters. It has great art galleries, and the Contemporary Arts Center is here too.
- Friday Lunch is a New Orleans tradition. The meal starts about midday – and lubricated by several drinks – and lasts all day. Galatoire’s on Bourbon Street is the place to lunch for those lucky enough to get a reservation, although tables in the first floor dining room are first-come, first-served.
- Mardi Gras celebrations are world famous. The festivities start officially on January 6 (Twelfth Night or Little Christmas) and last until Shrove Tuesday and feature parties and parades. For visitors at other times of the year, there is Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, where you can take a tour and see the props and giant figures. The tour includes coffee and King Cake (a Mardi Gras tradition, a ring cake like a brioche decorated with green, purple and gold sugar with a small figure of the baby Jesus baked inside).
- Take a swamp tour of Bayou Segnette, a Cajun fishing village, 20 minutes from the center of New Orleans with Westwego Swamp Adventures. Included in the tour is an ecology/naturalist presentation. The nesting grounds of alligators, egrets, raccoons and many types of snakes can be spotted along the way.
- For a glimpse of the other side (perhaps), visit an above-ground cemetery. Saint Louis Cemetery No 1. is the oldest cemetery in the city, and boasts (it is said) several ghostly apparitions including an old man and most famously Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.
