MSY Economy Recent Experience with timing

In short, most of the time short term is the best bet but economy is a far superior option to long term parking IMO. Yes, when it's 100+ degrees outside and you're checking alot of bags and there is a long line it changes things so alot has to be factored in but the timing and shuttle experience is fast and convenient most of the time.

Everyone has their own experience but I’ve used the economy lot at MSY in certain circumstances and have had mostly positive experiences but see others offer differing opinions largely based on preconceived notions, often which are not really accurate and frequently from second hand accounts. Anecdotal is anecdotal so this isn’t that much different but I knew we would fly on s ski trip this weekend and since it’s a long trip, where we have a lot of luggage (skis, boots, winter clothes, etc) so I didn’t wanted to make things as easy as smooth as possible so I was going to document the experience for others to see the type of experience you can have.

I started my stopwatch timer from the time we got out of the car and started walking to the elevator. Parked on the 4th floor planning to take the elevator to the first floor, short walk to baggage check in then board the bus and head to the terminal.

From the time I stepped out of my truck, grabbed our luggage, got to the elevator and made our way to the baggage check in (with nobody in line) it took 5 minutes and 47 seconds. Grabbed a small bottle of water from the counter, bags checked easy and fast and was sitting on the shuttle less than 4 minutes later.

5:47 to get to baggage check







9:19 to get luggage checked, carry-ons on the shuttle and sitting down waiting to depart for the main terminal



There was one shuttle ready to roll and two waiting to depart and we saw another on the airport access road heading back as we were heading out. They don’t use the side road anymore with the I-10 flyover now operating. Less than 14 minutes later we stepped out of the shuttle, had all of our carry-ons off, in our hand and were walking into MSY bypassing the check in area altogether for a total time of 22 minutes and 37 seconds from the time we parked our car.