Cheap flights to New Orleans

New Orleans climate

New Orleans’ climate is subtropical – hot and humid. The hottest months are July and August; temperatures range from 27 to 29 degrees Celsius (81 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit). January is the coldest month, average daily temperatures are 12 degrees (55F). There is some rainfall, about 161cm per year. Travellers considering booking cheap flights to New Orleans should bear in mind that the city is vulnerable to hurricanes between June and November.

Getting around New Orleans

Getting Around: 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 over three km. 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 airport overview

As the largest commercial airport serving the New Orleans and southeast Louisiana area, Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) welcomes around 8 million passengers each year. The airport is located 11.5 miles (19km) west of New Orleans, and is the second lowest-lying international airport in the world, sitting merely 4.5 feet (1.4m) above sea level.

Flights to Louis Armstrong International arrive daily from across the United States, with occasional flights arriving from Canada and South America. Some of the major airlines that operate at the airport include Continental Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines among a number of others.      

If you’re spending some time at the airport, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the efficiency you’ll encounter here. Queuing won’t take up too much time, and staff are friendly and happy to help. There’ll be enough to keep you occupied, although if you’re waiting in Concourse D, then you’ll have to make do with limited refreshment options.