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MSY Rental Car Situation

Posted on 9/22/24 at 9:24 am
Posted by CuseTiger
Member since Jul 2013
8947 posts
Posted on 9/22/24 at 9:24 am
Just went through the MSY rental car experience and it is lacking quite a bit. Arriving at MSY, need to go downstairs, head outside to the middle pickup location, then take the bus ride. For some reason, I was picturing it to be a quick ride but going all the way out to veterans on a road that clearly needs to be repaved then looping back south and all the way around the economy garages took 25 minutes. This morning turning the car in and making my way to the terminal took 29 minutes.

I had no wait for a bus either way so can't imagine trying to do this during a busy time of the day, super early morning/late at night, or with a ton of luggage. I'd suggest if you have a group, send the person picking up the car to start the process while you wait on luggage at the terminal and pick everyone up there at the terminal. Not sure what they're planning on doing long term but this wasn't a great experience
Posted by bluestem75
Dallas, TX
Member since Oct 2007
4893 posts
Posted on 9/22/24 at 9:41 am to
I get that they built a rental car garage recently, but for f’s sake, building a new one near the new terminal should have happened. Flying out, I had to leave an hour earlier than I wanted to factor the 30 minute bus ride from the new terminal to the old one.
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
83650 posts
Posted on 9/22/24 at 10:47 am to
MSY is by far the worst rental car experience of any airport.
Posted by financetiger
Member since Feb 2008
1838 posts
Posted on 9/22/24 at 11:08 am to
This is such good advice to know. I am so glad you are letting us know this. I will definitely keep this in mind. Thank you.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46305 posts
Posted on 9/22/24 at 12:41 pm to
supposedly an express road inside the airport footprint is in the works, both for the economy garage and the rental car garage

it is ridiculous what they are having to do now I completely agree
Posted by tickfawtiger
Killian LA
Member since Sep 2005
11509 posts
Posted on 9/22/24 at 2:32 pm to
EVERYTHING that was/is wrong with the new airports' logistics is due to the B.S. with ALL things N.O./LA ...the whole thing was rushed into existence long before the infrastructure was put in place...had to make sure ALL of mayors 'crime family' and cohorts got 'theirs' at any cost !!
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46305 posts
Posted on 9/22/24 at 6:34 pm to
I guess…

but the new airport is so much better than old moisant it’s night and day. And now that the Loyola drive access from 10 is done it’s a breeze getting in and out. The only thing not working is access to the old garage where economy and rental cars are. They’ll get it finished at some point.

for now if you park at short or long term and aren’t renting a car, it’s first class
Posted by PrettyBird
Aspen
Member since Feb 2010
10400 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 8:24 am to
I've said this since the week the new airport opened. The car rental is incredibly inconvenient, and yes plan for that extra 30 minutes.

Now another thing to plan for is when the two parking garages are full (short and long term) and the only option left is the economy garage. You really need to look up online if the parking is full before you drive to the airport, so that you can add another 30 minutes to your planning.

I agree the new airport is better, but the car rental and economy parking are dumb.
Posted by tadman
Member since Jun 2020
5151 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 8:48 am to
MSY rental car situation sucks the fat one, and its the usual incompetence thing. They claim to run the busses on a schedule but that schedule is "whenever we want and stop asking questions".

Also, great move building a new rental car garage by the old airport. Didn't they have a 20 year plan to build a new airport???
Posted by SuperDomed
Member since May 2010
973 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 11:23 am to
quote:

Now another thing to plan for is when the two parking garages are full (short and long term) and the only option left is the economy garage. You really need to look up online if the parking is full before you drive to the airport, so that you can add another 30 minutes to your planning.


If you know you’re flying out >24 hours in advance, the key is to pre book parking online. You’re guaranteed a spot even if the lot is full. Has saved me numerous times from having to make the trek to the economy garage
Posted by LSUfan4444
Member since Mar 2004
56609 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 2:51 pm to
The economy garage has more shuttles than the rental car center; it doesn't take 30 minutes and with the ability to check baggage at the garage, saves time at the terminal
Posted by kaaj24
Dallas
Member since Jan 2010
877 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 5:09 pm to
It’s a disaster.

Nice airport. Security isn’t great from a time processing.
Posted by Sheep
Neither here nor there
Member since Jun 2007
19694 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 6:11 pm to
quote:

I've said this since the week the new airport opened. The car rental is incredibly inconvenient, and yes plan for that extra 30 minutes.


I mean, the rental cars in Denver HAVE to be in a different zip code from the terminal

I always add 30-60 minutes to fool with a rental car.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46305 posts
Posted on 9/23/24 at 7:17 pm to
quote:

I mean, the rental cars in Denver HAVE to be in a different zip code from the terminal
huh?
it’s a 5 minute shuttle ride
literally around the corner from the terminal and the train station
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
83650 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 7:22 am to
quote:

I mean, the rental cars in Denver HAVE to be in a different zip code from the terminal


Takes 5, maybe 10 min max to get to DEN rental car center.

MSY is 30 min if you're lucky.


I still put BNA down as the easiest. Hundred yard walk under garage once you walk out from baggage claim. I've dropped off rental and been to my gate in 10m before.
Posted by PrettyBird
Aspen
Member since Feb 2010
10400 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 8:45 am to
quote:

it doesn't take 30 minutes


I suppose I was referring to the situation where you arrive to MSY airport to park at short/long term parking, both are full and then you have drive over to Economy to park and get on the shuttle. That is a solid 30 minute mistake.

Another poster said to reserve your spot ahead of time which is great advice, avoids the above.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46305 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 11:44 am to
at minimum just look on the parking page when you get close at flymsy.com they show real time garage availability
Posted by BRich
Old Metairie
Member since Aug 2017
2737 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 2:04 pm to
It's dumb, but not unusual. In my travels over the last 10 years or so, quite a few airports have situations where you have to take a shuttle bus (or train) to a non-attached rental car center, with average travel times varying from 10 minutes to 30 minutes:

LAX
Kansas City
Oakland
Detroit
Boston
Seattle (Sea-Tac)
Phoenix (train, not bus)

This post was edited on 9/24/24 at 2:05 pm
Posted by Bayouboogaloocrew
Dixie
Member since Jul 2013
5063 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:20 pm to
Add San Diego to this
Posted by Snoop Dawg
Member since Sep 2009
2842 posts
Posted on 9/24/24 at 9:31 pm to
quote:

MSY is by far the worst rental car experience of any airport.


Went from one of the better ones to instantly the worst. The new terminal wasn’t well thought out. The access to I-10 when first opened was another major mistake.
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