If you’ve been dreaming of a getaway to New Orleans but worry the airfare might set you back as much as an extravagant Bourbon Street night out, don’t throw in the towel just yet. With some savvy travel hacker tips and a bit of flexibility, you can easily score cheap flights to the Big Easy and keep that budget intact for splurging on powdery beignets, soulful jazz, and one-too-many Sazeracs when you arrive.
Let’s start with understanding when to look for the best deals to New Orleans. As a whole, fares tend to be lower during the sweltering summer months of June through August when the humidity is no joke and crowds are smaller. You can frequently find roundtrip tickets from major US cities for $200-$300 on a good sale. The winter holidays and periods like Mardi Gras see prices spike, with flights easily $500 or more roundtrip from hubs like New York or Los Angeles.
So when exactly should you book to score the lowest prices? According to travel experts, purchasing tickets around 3-4 months prior to your travel dates is typically the sweet spot for domestic US routes. Set airfare price-tracking alerts to get notifications from sites like Scott’s Cheap Flights on exceptional deals from your home airport.
Of course, flexibility with your travel dates is one of the best secrets to finding the most affordable fares. Have your bags packed and be ready to jet off whenever that unicorn deal pops up. Also, consider flying on weekdays rather than weekends when flights are typically more in demand and expensive.
Another pro tip is to check prices for nearby alternative airports when shopping routes. For instance, fares to Louis Armstrong International in New Orleans may be cheaper than flying into the closer Baton Rouge airport. Budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier frequently offer bare-bones fares as low as $100 roundtrip to MSY airport from major US cities if you can handle basic economy with minimal amenities.
For travelers based in regional airports with minimal New Orleans service, you may find better deals by first positioning yourself to a larger US hub airport. From there, low-cost carriers like Southwest, JetBlue and even discounted fares on legacy airlines could save you hundreds over an expensive regional connection.
Once you’re ready to book, be sure to compare prices across all the major travel search engines like Google Flights, Kayak, Skyscanner and discount sites like StudentUniverse and CheapOair. Installing browser extensions like WayAway Plus can also automatically notify you of lower fares after booking if prices drop.
If your travel dates are set and fares stubbornly high, one option to reduce overall costs is to build in a long layover of 12-24 hours in an interesting connecting city and turn it into a free stopover. For example, you could book a cheap positioning flight to Miami and spend a night exploring South Beach before carrying on to New Orleans the next day. Just be sure to book these as separate one-way tickets.
Another way to hack cheaper flights is to take advantage of frequent flyer mile redemptions and airline credit card benefits. Most major domestic carriers charge only 12,500-25,000 miles roundtrip for main cabin economy seats to New Orleans at the saver level during off-peak periods. If you have a big stash of miles to burn, securing tickets to the Big Easy could suddenly become free or close to it after taxes/fees.
Premium cabin redemptions on mainline routes like New York-New Orleans are another option worth exploring if you’re flush with miles and points. Domestic first class awards fall in the 40,000-70,000 mile range roundtrip and can provide excellent redemption value, especially on transcontinental routes. There’s nothing quite like starting your Nola trip with white glove service, complimentary cocktails and a fresh hot meal before touching down.
For ultimate convenience and value, positioning flights on budget airlines to major airline hubs where you then connect onwards in a premium cabin can make for sweet redemptions. For instance, you could fly basic economy on Spirit to Dallas and then connect to New Orleans in American Airlines first class on the same award ticket – all for as little as 25,000 AAdvantage miles roundtrip.
Finally, let’s not forget that New Orleans is imminently drivable from many US cities across the South and Midwest if you have the time and inclination for a road trip. Gas and snacks are likely to cost way less than a family of four flying from, say, Kansas City or Atlanta. You’ll also have the freedom to explore the Gulf Coast or River Road plantations at your leisure and arrive with no baggage fees!
So whether you’re team #avgeek or just looking for the most affordable way to get your jazz fest groove on, New Orleans is delightfully accessible from all corners of the country as long as you get creative with booking flights. By flexing your travel dates, comparing fares across search engines, and taking advantage of mileage awards, it’s totally possible to jet off to the Big Easy on a tiny budget and have plenty of cash reserves left for bingeing on muffulettas, Pimm’s Cups and live music on Frenchmen Street. Who’s ready to laissez les bons temps rouler?