One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
GPT8.5
MSY8.5
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
GPT7.4
MSY8.0+0.6
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
GPT7.2
MSY8.2+1.0
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
GPT7.3+0.1
MSY7.2
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
GPT7.6+0.8
MSY6.8
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
GPT2.0
MSY8.1+6.1
Best for
GPT
Drive-up Mississippi Gulf Coast / casino trips that want $11 surface overnightEarly banks that can use American leftover PreCheck in a one-checkpoint hallArrivals who will take a rental, taxi, or unnamed rideshare rather than wait for a bus
MSY
Local New Orleans food and vibeEasy single-terminal navigationPriority Pass lounge accessAward-winning passenger experience
Watch out for
GPT
No ticketed lounge; USO leftover is military-ID only behind TSAOfficial dining leftover names Chandeleur / Sonic / Coffee Connection without printed hours or a bottle priceAirlines card leftover omits Breeze and counts casino charters; live 14 Sep 2026 FlightAware still printed Breeze LAS/TPAOfficial Ground leftover does not print CTA or a cell lot; no rail
MSY
Security wait spikes during Mardi Gras, festivals or TSA staffing issuesLimited lounge hours (most close early evening)Economy parking requires shuttleRideshare surge pricing common during events
Amenities and tips
GPT
Chandeleur Island Brewing, Sonic, Coffee Connection, Faber NewsSurface parking $11Nursing room and USO Gulf CoastFree Wi-FiFaber News & GiftsUSO Gulf Coast (military ID)
Official ask is 1.5 hours — counters leftover close 30 minutes prior
Official security leftover wants you 1.5 hours prior. The terminal leftover opens 2 hours before the first departure and stays open through the last arrival.
One TSA, one hall — do not invent a second terminal
Ticketed passengers use one civil hall after a single TSA. Official pages do not print a live airline-to-gate map — read FIDS.
Faber leftover Chandeleur, Sonic, and Coffee Connection — hours unpublished
Official amenities leftover names Chandeleur Island Brewing Company, Sonic, Coffee Connection, and Faber News & Gifts. Official pages do not print hours or a bottle price.
MSY
Local dining sceneThe Club MSY + airline loungesFree Wi-Fi #MSY-FIFamily facilitiesAccessibilityGround options
Arrive 2 hours domestic; 3 for Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest
One centralized Level 2 checkpoint serves every gate. Build extra buffer for early-morning banks and festival weeks; use PreCheck and live MyTSA waits.
One terminal — walk A, B and C after security
After screening you can reach Concourse A (international), B (middle) and C (Delta/United) without re-clearing. Allow 5–15 minutes to far gates.
Eat local airside, not generic chains
The 2019 terminal’s food hall is the reason to arrive early — skip generic counters when local Creole and Vietnamese spots are open.
GPT · A compact one-TSA Gulf Coast hall with $11 surface parking and a live PreCheck leftover — no ticketed lounge, unpublished dining hours, and a leftover airline card that still omits Breeze.
MSY · MSY delivers a genuinely pleasant midsize experience with standout local food, easy single-terminal layout and repeated best-in-class awards, traded off against average on-time stats and event-driven security spikes.
