MSY is a dump
Dec 15, 2010 | 12:48 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: UA G, US G
Posts: 16
Meh
Been into and out of MSY about a dozen times the last few months, and once a year before that. I recall, first, that it's actually improved since Katrina. Agree that bathrooms are frequently dirty and food choices are pitiful inside the gates. Good news is that you can plan ahead to eat outside, for whatever it's worth, because security's so easy.
I think it can't qualify as a dump, though, entirely because of convenience to the city; quick security lines; and best of all on-time departures and arrivals. Beats out a ton of other, nicer airports on that score.
I think it can't qualify as a dump, though, entirely because of convenience to the city; quick security lines; and best of all on-time departures and arrivals. Beats out a ton of other, nicer airports on that score.
Dec 15, 2010 | 5:42 pm
#47
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Washington, DC USA
Programs: UA; Amtrak
Posts: 2,002
Come on, folks. As Jon Stewart once said: "It's Louisiana. It's a miracle the state's name is spelled right on its license plate."
Dec 15, 2010 | 11:23 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Between EWR & PHL
Programs: UA MileagePlus dirt (former hard-way Silver); AS Mileage Plan MVP; Hilton Honors Silver
Posts: 1,586
SON OF A... There's been a Sonic at MSY this whole time? (Turns out it's down by the US/WN gates.) Next time I'm definitely stopping in for a Limeade before heading to the rental cars...
Dec 16, 2010 | 2:20 am
#49
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: One Pass Silver, UA Premier
Posts: 152
SON OF A... There's been a Sonic at MSY this whole time? (Turns out it's down by the US/WN gates.) Next time I'm definitely stopping in for a Limeade before heading to the rental cars...[/QUOTE]
I believe there's a Popeyes right next to it. It's way better than KFC or Church's
I believe there's a Popeyes right next to it. It's way better than KFC or Church's
Dec 16, 2010 | 6:28 am
#50
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: MS Coast/China
Programs: UA GS, 1.5 MM
Posts: 201
MSY is GREAT for a home airport. Extremely easy to access in every way. One thing that no one has mentioned is that you have direct access to far more hubs than any other airport in the region. For instance, direct flights to almost all of CO and UA's hubs without having to connect to the closest one like all other smaller airports in the region do. Still, I wish they would put the direct LAX and SFO flight options back that were in place pre-Katrina. Hopefully the $755 million in upgrades will help with the niceties.
Dec 16, 2010 | 6:59 am
#51
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: New Orleans, LA
Programs: DL PM, AA Gold, A3 Gold, WN CP, and lots of points everywhere.
Posts: 344
As a transplant who now flys out of MSY regularly, I initially fell in the dump camp frankly. Then again, MSP is pretty nice.
Having lived here for a year and a half and probably flown in/out of it 30+ times now, my opinions been turned. Appearances can be deceiving.
To echo others points here, it's:
* Convenient.
* Surprisingly on-time in my experience.
* Well connected to other hubs (SFO connection is returning I think).
* Free wifi.
On the other hand, the food is disappointing to me. They get great food at local events (Jazzfest, FQ Fest, Po-boy fest, etc)... Gets some of those vendors to set up more permanent or perhaps rotating deals. The issues with the concourse layout and security implications make this far more difficult however. This is mitigated somewhat by another posters comments that it doesn't function as a hub so you tend not to spend much time in the airport.
No comments on cars/shuttles. My wife either makes a run or I take a taxi most of the time. Wish the taxis were a bit less but they aren't bad.
Anyway, it's dated... While functional, there's a feel about it that I wish was better. Cosmetic improvements would definitely create a different air about the place and many's introduction to the city. And merging the air-side concourses somehow would make a big difference I think.
I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the renovations!
By the way, kudos to LANOIA for jumping into the fray in post 14.
Welcome to FT!
Amen. Finally went to Maximo's last night. Great stuff.
Having lived here for a year and a half and probably flown in/out of it 30+ times now, my opinions been turned. Appearances can be deceiving.
To echo others points here, it's:
* Convenient.
* Surprisingly on-time in my experience.
* Well connected to other hubs (SFO connection is returning I think).
* Free wifi.
On the other hand, the food is disappointing to me. They get great food at local events (Jazzfest, FQ Fest, Po-boy fest, etc)... Gets some of those vendors to set up more permanent or perhaps rotating deals. The issues with the concourse layout and security implications make this far more difficult however. This is mitigated somewhat by another posters comments that it doesn't function as a hub so you tend not to spend much time in the airport.
No comments on cars/shuttles. My wife either makes a run or I take a taxi most of the time. Wish the taxis were a bit less but they aren't bad.
Anyway, it's dated... While functional, there's a feel about it that I wish was better. Cosmetic improvements would definitely create a different air about the place and many's introduction to the city. And merging the air-side concourses somehow would make a big difference I think.
I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the renovations!
By the way, kudos to LANOIA for jumping into the fray in post 14.
Welcome to FT!
Amen. Finally went to Maximo's last night. Great stuff.
Dec 16, 2010 | 7:05 am
#52
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,784
I like MAD, especially after seeing a crew of cleaners scrubbing all the seats in the gate areas at 5:00am, I doubt many airports do this!
The North Terminal at MIA has been greatly improved and all the new stores and eateries are definitely bringing it up on my list.
My favorite aipprt though is probably the whichever one I'm headed to on my next vacation!
The North Terminal at MIA has been greatly improved and all the new stores and eateries are definitely bringing it up on my list.
My favorite aipprt though is probably the whichever one I'm headed to on my next vacation!
Dec 16, 2010 | 2:14 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS & UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 11,580
Dec 16, 2010 | 2:26 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS & UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 11,580
I really don't understand all the griping in this thread.
MSY doesn't seem any worse than LAX, to me (at least, the bathrooms aren't any worse. I flew into LAX last week and because of a delay didn't have time to hit the lounge; changing in the bathroom by the continental gates was not an experience I want to repeat). I wouldn't want to connect through MSY, but on the other hand I can usually get from my car to the gate in 20 minutes flat, and the airport is 12 miles from the CBD. The USPark shuttle runs about every 3 minutes (I've never had to wait longer than that).
The airside concessions at MSY are, admittedly, awful. The landside concessions are just fine, IMO- there's decent coffee (PJs) and fast food (a popeyes and a sonic come to mind, plus a beignet outlet), and an acme franchise. The problem is if you're waiting at the gate, your options are quite limited- either a lucky dog or an overpriced smoothie. This is the main distinguishing factor between MSY and IAH-B, I think- at least at IAH-B, most (all?) the concessions are airside. Unfortunately, like many airports, MSY was designed before modern security procedures, and all the good stuff is outside. It sounds like the common thread is that frequent flyers tend to rush to the gate then look for something to eat- that kind of attitude will leave you stuck in NO. The design of the airport makes this difficult to fix without basically tearing the whole place down- something unlikely to happen. On the other hand, security is normally a pretty quick process (these new porno scanners are slowing things down though).
In a perfect world all american airports would be like IAH-E or PIT, with lots of check in space and a big open terminal. But honestly, considering the convenience of MSY to the city of new orleans, and the fact that it's so fast to get from check in through security to the gate, I think MSY works just fine.
As to the people who don't like the city of new orleans- well, if your idea of living is highways and "fine dining" chain restaurants, it's just not for you.
MSY doesn't seem any worse than LAX, to me (at least, the bathrooms aren't any worse. I flew into LAX last week and because of a delay didn't have time to hit the lounge; changing in the bathroom by the continental gates was not an experience I want to repeat). I wouldn't want to connect through MSY, but on the other hand I can usually get from my car to the gate in 20 minutes flat, and the airport is 12 miles from the CBD. The USPark shuttle runs about every 3 minutes (I've never had to wait longer than that).
The airside concessions at MSY are, admittedly, awful. The landside concessions are just fine, IMO- there's decent coffee (PJs) and fast food (a popeyes and a sonic come to mind, plus a beignet outlet), and an acme franchise. The problem is if you're waiting at the gate, your options are quite limited- either a lucky dog or an overpriced smoothie. This is the main distinguishing factor between MSY and IAH-B, I think- at least at IAH-B, most (all?) the concessions are airside. Unfortunately, like many airports, MSY was designed before modern security procedures, and all the good stuff is outside. It sounds like the common thread is that frequent flyers tend to rush to the gate then look for something to eat- that kind of attitude will leave you stuck in NO. The design of the airport makes this difficult to fix without basically tearing the whole place down- something unlikely to happen. On the other hand, security is normally a pretty quick process (these new porno scanners are slowing things down though).
In a perfect world all american airports would be like IAH-E or PIT, with lots of check in space and a big open terminal. But honestly, considering the convenience of MSY to the city of new orleans, and the fact that it's so fast to get from check in through security to the gate, I think MSY works just fine.
As to the people who don't like the city of new orleans- well, if your idea of living is highways and "fine dining" chain restaurants, it's just not for you.
As for the city in general, it has made great strides since Katrina and remains a special place for yours truly, warts and all.
As Mark Knopfler with "Dire Straits" so eloquently put it:
"If she was an Ace and I was just a Jack......
And the cards were never seen.....
We could have been the the King and the Queen.....
But she took me on back to her courtyard.....
Where the magnolia perfume screams....
Behind the gates and the granite.....
On the planet.....
Of the New Orleans."
P.S. - Maximo's and many, many other restaurants are just part of the reason why N.O. remains a special place......
Dec 16, 2010 | 4:30 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K2MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,318
MSY is GREAT for a home airport. Extremely easy to access in every way. One thing that no one has mentioned is that you have direct access to far more hubs than any other airport in the region. For instance, direct flights to almost all of CO and UA's hubs without having to connect to the closest one like all other smaller airports in the region do. Still, I wish they would put the direct LAX and SFO flight options back that were in place pre-Katrina. Hopefully the $755 million in upgrades will help with the niceties.
Dec 16, 2010 | 7:16 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,206
PHX
Have you been to PHX lately? When it comes to the CO/UA gates, that place is a dump!!