Quick answer
Rebook in your airline's app or on its website straight away; it is usually faster than the ticket counter line. If the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you choose not to travel, the US DOT says you are entitled to a refund.
FAA status for MSY
Checking the FAA feed…
Source: FAA National Airspace System Status. Covers ground stops, ground delay programs and airport-wide delays, not single flights.
First steps
Check the airline app
It shows the revised time, any rebooking it has already made for you, and options to change. Turn on notifications.
Rebook before the line forms
Use the app or website, or call while you queue. Seats on the next flights go quickly when a whole bank of departures is cancelled.
Decide: travel or refund
Accepting a rebooked flight or a travel credit means no refund. If you would rather not travel, decline the offer and ask for your money back.
Keep receipts
For meals and a hotel if the cause was within the airline's control, ask the airline what it covers before you spend.
Rebook with your airline
Main airlines at MSY: where to rebook
| Airline | Change or rebook | Travel alerts |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest | Change a flight | In the app and on the change page |
| Delta | In the Fly Delta app, My Trips | Delta advisories |
| American | Find your trip | American travel alerts |
| United | My trips | In the United app |
| JetBlue | Manage trips | JetBlue travel alerts |
Other airlines at MSY are on the airlines page. If you booked through a travel agency or booking site, it may have to make the change or the refund.
Refunds: what the US DOT says
This is a summary of the US DOT refunds page; it is not legal advice, and the DOT page has the full rules.
- Cancelled flight: you are entitled to a refund, whatever the reason for the cancellation, if you choose not to travel and do not accept a travel credit, voucher or other compensation.
- Significant change or delay: the same applies. The DOT counts a departure 3 or more hours earlier, or an arrival 3 or more hours later, as significant on domestic trips (6 hours on international trips), along with a change of airport or extra connections.
- If you fly anyway: taking the delayed flight or the airline's alternative means no refund under DOT rules.
- Timing: the DOT says refunds go back to the original form of payment, within 7 business days for credit cards and 20 days for other payment types.
- Extras: fees for services you did not get, such as a seat assignment on a cancelled flight, are refundable too. A checked bag fee is refundable if the bag is significantly delayed or lost.
- Credits: airlines may offer a travel credit instead, but they must tell you about your right to a refund.
When the cause is within the airline's control, such as crew or maintenance, many airlines promise more, like meals or a hotel. The DOT customer service dashboard shows what each large US airline commits to.
Hurricanes, storms and fog
- The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 (National Hurricane Center). When a storm threatens, airlines often post travel waivers that let you change dates without a fee.
- Airlines can cancel flights before a storm arrives, and service can stop entirely until it passes. Check your airline before you leave for the airport.
- Summer afternoon thunderstorms and winter fog cause shorter delays. The airport forecast and the FAA delay status show what is coming.
Staying near the airport
Chain hotels line Airline Drive in Kenner, next to the airport, and several advertise free airport shuttles; Hilton New Orleans Airport is one of the closest. Shuttle hours change, so check before you travel with the hotel. After a mass cancellation, nearby rooms sell out fast, so book in an app while you wait in line. More areas on the hotels page.
Find a room near MSY
Kenner hotels by the airport suit a rebooked early flight.
Getting back to the city
- Taxi: $36 flat to the CBD or French Quarter for one or two riders, from outside Door 7 on Level 1.
- Uber and Lyft: the middle curb outside Baggage Claim.
- Bus: the RTA 202 Airport Express is $1.25 from outside Door 2. It does not run around the clock, so check the timetable late at night.
Fares and pickup points from the airport; details on getting to the French Quarter. Checked bags on a cancelled flight: ask the airline whether it will return them or send them on with you.
Questions travelers ask
Do I get a refund if my flight from MSY is cancelled?
Per the US DOT, yes, if you choose not to travel and do not accept a rebooking, travel credit or other compensation. This applies whatever the reason for the cancellation.
Will the airline pay for a hotel in New Orleans?
The DOT refund rules do not cover hotels. Many airlines promise meals or a hotel when the cause is within their control, such as crew or maintenance; weather is outside that. The DOT customer service dashboard lists each airline's commitments.
How do I know if MSY has an airport-wide delay?
The FAA status box on this page and on the delays page shows ground stops, ground delay programs and airport-wide delays for MSY. Your own flight can still be late for other reasons, so check the airline app.
Sources
Last checked October 22, 2026. The airport's website and your airline have the final word.