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FLIGHTS
Airports and Airfields

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Guide

USATODAY
An unidentified jazz band greets passengers at New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport.

Contact information and flight status

Checkpoint savvy

Busiest times: Sundays; early morning.

Workarounds: Each concourse has an independent checkpoint; so no real workarounds.

Parking

Parking information: 504-464-0204. Attendant available 24 hours.

Most convenient: Short-term parking garage, $18.50/per day.

Least expensive: Long-term parking garage, $15/day. Credit card-only parking lot: $11/day (no attendant available).

Cellphone lot: Free lot at corner of Airline Drive and Hollandey Street. Portable toilets on site.

Transportation to/from city

Most convenient: A taxi ride to downtown New Orleans will cost around $36 (for one or two persons) and take about 20 minutes. Shared shuttle vans are $24 one way/$44 per person round-trip. (Three bags per person). See more options.

Least expensive: RTA Airport Express Bus Route 202, $1.50. Jefferson Transit E2- Airport Downtown Express, $2. Travel time: About 45 minutes. Transfer required on weekends.

Wi-Fi and charging stations

Free wireless internet access is available throughout the airport.

Power outlets: Free charging stations; outlets are located throughout terminal.

Go local

Good choice for local gifts: Praline Connection (Concourse B), Perlis Cajun Clothing (Concourse D), Saints Store (Terminal), Creole Kitchen (cookbooks and Louisiana food products, Terminal and Concourse C), Jazz Essence (Concourses B and D). See more options.

Good choice for local food: Dooky Chase's (Parabola Lobby), Dook’s Place (A/B Lobby), Ye Olde College Inn (Concourse D), Copeland's Cheesecake Scoop Cafe (Concourse D), Wow Café and Wingery (Concourse D), Copeland's Gourmet Kitchen (Concourse C), Le Petit Bistro (Concourse B), Zatarains Kitchen (Concourse B), Praline Connection (Concourse B), West Beignet (Parabola Lobby), Lucky Dog (famous New Orleans hot dog vendor; all concourses). See more options.

Tips and tidbits

MSY has a pet relief area outside the baggage claim, a Whitney National Bank branch, a currency exchange booth, Louisiana Tax-Free Refund Center for international shoppers and a baggage storage area. The airport's displayed art collection includes jazz photographs (Concourse C) and works by Louisiana artists (Terminal, baggage claim, Concourses C and D). On Fridays, arriving passengers receive complimentary Mardi Gras beads.

Nearby layover option

Kenner's Historic Rivertown (restaurants/shops) is less than two miles from the airport. Treasure Chest Casino is five miles away and Destrehan Plantation is 9.5 miles away.

Your tips and picks?

Please share your time- and money-saving tips, favorite restaurants, bars and stores in comments below.

These guides are written by Harriet Baskas, who is the author of six books, including the airport guidebook Stuck at the Airport and a blog of the same name.

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