TSA wait times

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International

MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026

Photo: adam roye / Unsplash

New Orleans Airport (MSY) TSA Wait Times

Security at New Orleans (MSY) is busiest from 4 to 7 am and quietest after 7 pm on a typical Sunday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Monday, 6–7 am · MSY time

BUSY

100% of MSY's busiest hour

MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026

MSY's security page

MSY security lines by hour

How busy MSY's checkpoints typically are in each hour, as a share of the airport's busiest hour (median of the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026). Busy is above 70%, Moderate 40–70%, Quiet below 40%. Hours are MSY local time.

MSY security by hour on Sundays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 35% of peak, Quiet4a: 86% of peak, Busy5a: 92% of peak, Busy6a: 93% of peak, Busy7a: 73% of peak, Busy8a: 92% of peak, Busy9a: 76% of peak, Busy10a: 45% of peak, Moderate11a: 84% of peak, Busy12p: 93% of peak, Busy1p: 87% of peak, Busy2p: 72% of peak, Busy3p: 77% of peak, Busy4p: 91% of peak, Busy5p: 80% of peak, Busy6p: 40% of peak, Moderate7p: 29% of peak, Quiet8p: 9% of peak, Quiet9p: 3% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
MSY · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am60435%Quiet
4–5 am1,50186%Busy
5–6 am1,59892%Busy
6–7 am1,62093%Busy
7–8 am1,27973%Busy
8–9 am1,59692%Busy
9–10 am1,33276%Busy
10–11 am79045%Moderate
11 am–noon1,46384%Busy
noon–1 pm1,61493%Busy
1–2 pm1,51987%Busy
2–3 pm1,25172%Busy
3–4 pm1,34977%Busy
4–5 pm1,58691%Busy
5–6 pm1,38980%Busy
6–7 pm69040%Moderate
7–8 pm51229%Quiet
8–9 pm1609%Quiet
9–10 pm543%Quiet
10–11 pm111%Quiet
11 pm–midnight00%Quiet

MSY security by hour on Mondays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 35% of peak, Quiet4a: 87% of peak, Busy5a: 86% of peak, Busy6a: 100% of peak, Busy7a: 85% of peak, Busy8a: 78% of peak, Busy9a: 91% of peak, Busy10a: 41% of peak, Moderate11a: 86% of peak, Busy12p: 89% of peak, Busy1p: 74% of peak, Busy2p: 68% of peak, Moderate3p: 73% of peak, Busy4p: 80% of peak, Busy5p: 68% of peak, Moderate6p: 39% of peak, Quiet7p: 11% of peak, Quiet8p: 4% of peak, Quiet9p: 1% of peak, Quiet10p: 0% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
MSY · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am61735%Quiet
4–5 am1,51687%Busy
5–6 am1,50486%Busy
6–7 am1,742100%Busy
7–8 am1,48385%Busy
8–9 am1,35578%Busy
9–10 am1,58091%Busy
10–11 am71441%Moderate
11 am–noon1,49886%Busy
noon–1 pm1,55389%Busy
1–2 pm1,29174%Busy
2–3 pm1,18468%Moderate
3–4 pm1,27473%Busy
4–5 pm1,39980%Busy
5–6 pm1,18068%Moderate
6–7 pm68039%Quiet
7–8 pm19111%Quiet
8–9 pm744%Quiet
9–10 pm151%Quiet
10–11 pm10%Quiet
11 pm–midnight00%Quiet

MSY security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 49% of peak, Moderate5a: 69% of peak, Moderate6a: 77% of peak, Busy7a: 61% of peak, Moderate8a: 69% of peak, Moderate9a: 66% of peak, Moderate10a: 42% of peak, Moderate11a: 75% of peak, Busy12p: 73% of peak, Busy1p: 74% of peak, Busy2p: 67% of peak, Moderate3p: 62% of peak, Moderate4p: 54% of peak, Moderate5p: 31% of peak, Quiet6p: 15% of peak, Quiet7p: 1% of peak, Quiet8p: 0% of peak, Quiet9p: 0% of peak, Quiet10p: 0% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
MSY · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am22313%Quiet
4–5 am84549%Moderate
5–6 am1,20169%Moderate
6–7 am1,34177%Busy
7–8 am1,06461%Moderate
8–9 am1,20469%Moderate
9–10 am1,15566%Moderate
10–11 am73142%Moderate
11 am–noon1,30975%Busy
noon–1 pm1,27273%Busy
1–2 pm1,29074%Busy
2–3 pm1,16367%Moderate
3–4 pm1,07462%Moderate
4–5 pm94954%Moderate
5–6 pm54231%Quiet
6–7 pm26315%Quiet
7–8 pm191%Quiet
8–9 pm20%Quiet
9–10 pm00%Quiet
10–11 pm00%Quiet
11 pm–midnight00%Quiet

MSY security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 52% of peak, Moderate5a: 66% of peak, Moderate6a: 76% of peak, Busy7a: 56% of peak, Moderate8a: 64% of peak, Moderate9a: 73% of peak, Busy10a: 39% of peak, Quiet11a: 72% of peak, Busy12p: 69% of peak, Moderate1p: 78% of peak, Busy2p: 60% of peak, Moderate3p: 64% of peak, Moderate4p: 53% of peak, Moderate5p: 24% of peak, Quiet6p: 24% of peak, Quiet7p: 8% of peak, Quiet8p: 2% of peak, Quiet9p: 0% of peak, Quiet10p: 0% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
MSY · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am23013%Quiet
4–5 am91052%Moderate
5–6 am1,15266%Moderate
6–7 am1,33176%Busy
7–8 am98356%Moderate
8–9 am1,11564%Moderate
9–10 am1,27473%Busy
10–11 am68739%Quiet
11 am–noon1,24772%Busy
noon–1 pm1,19769%Moderate
1–2 pm1,36478%Busy
2–3 pm1,04060%Moderate
3–4 pm1,12264%Moderate
4–5 pm93053%Moderate
5–6 pm42024%Quiet
6–7 pm41924%Quiet
7–8 pm1358%Quiet
8–9 pm342%Quiet
9–10 pm40%Quiet
10–11 pm00%Quiet
11 pm–midnight00%Quiet

MSY security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 25% of peak, Quiet4a: 70% of peak, Moderate5a: 86% of peak, Busy6a: 86% of peak, Busy7a: 76% of peak, Busy8a: 77% of peak, Busy9a: 90% of peak, Busy10a: 49% of peak, Moderate11a: 74% of peak, Busy12p: 82% of peak, Busy1p: 73% of peak, Busy2p: 61% of peak, Moderate3p: 78% of peak, Busy4p: 80% of peak, Busy5p: 66% of peak, Moderate6p: 34% of peak, Quiet7p: 23% of peak, Quiet8p: 9% of peak, Quiet9p: 1% of peak, Quiet10p: 0% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
MSY · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am43125%Quiet
4–5 am1,22070%Moderate
5–6 am1,50686%Busy
6–7 am1,49886%Busy
7–8 am1,32676%Busy
8–9 am1,34377%Busy
9–10 am1,56090%Busy
10–11 am85549%Moderate
11 am–noon1,29474%Busy
noon–1 pm1,42982%Busy
1–2 pm1,27773%Busy
2–3 pm1,07061%Moderate
3–4 pm1,36078%Busy
4–5 pm1,39280%Busy
5–6 pm1,15366%Moderate
6–7 pm59834%Quiet
7–8 pm39523%Quiet
8–9 pm1599%Quiet
9–10 pm191%Quiet
10–11 pm30%Quiet
11 pm–midnight00%Quiet

MSY security by hour on Fridays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 25% of peak, Quiet4a: 71% of peak, Busy5a: 75% of peak, Busy6a: 82% of peak, Busy7a: 87% of peak, Busy8a: 65% of peak, Moderate9a: 91% of peak, Busy10a: 32% of peak, Quiet11a: 77% of peak, Busy12p: 67% of peak, Moderate1p: 60% of peak, Moderate2p: 50% of peak, Moderate3p: 63% of peak, Moderate4p: 63% of peak, Moderate5p: 43% of peak, Moderate6p: 31% of peak, Quiet7p: 12% of peak, Quiet8p: 5% of peak, Quiet9p: 1% of peak, Quiet10p: 0% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
MSY · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am42925%Quiet
4–5 am1,23371%Busy
5–6 am1,30575%Busy
6–7 am1,42982%Busy
7–8 am1,51487%Busy
8–9 am1,13365%Moderate
9–10 am1,58891%Busy
10–11 am55932%Quiet
11 am–noon1,33377%Busy
noon–1 pm1,16367%Moderate
1–2 pm1,04460%Moderate
2–3 pm87750%Moderate
3–4 pm1,09663%Moderate
4–5 pm1,09663%Moderate
5–6 pm75543%Moderate
6–7 pm54131%Quiet
7–8 pm21312%Quiet
8–9 pm855%Quiet
9–10 pm201%Quiet
10–11 pm40%Quiet
11 pm–midnight00%Quiet

MSY security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 19% of peak, Quiet4a: 51% of peak, Moderate5a: 62% of peak, Moderate6a: 67% of peak, Moderate7a: 46% of peak, Moderate8a: 53% of peak, Moderate9a: 57% of peak, Moderate10a: 36% of peak, Quiet11a: 72% of peak, Busy12p: 55% of peak, Moderate1p: 51% of peak, Moderate2p: 45% of peak, Moderate3p: 48% of peak, Moderate4p: 31% of peak, Quiet5p: 18% of peak, Quiet6p: 14% of peak, Quiet7p: 9% of peak, Quiet8p: 3% of peak, Quiet9p: 0% of peak, Quiet10p: 0% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
MSY · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am33319%Quiet
4–5 am88251%Moderate
5–6 am1,08562%Moderate
6–7 am1,15967%Moderate
7–8 am80546%Moderate
8–9 am91953%Moderate
9–10 am98557%Moderate
10–11 am62636%Quiet
11 am–noon1,24972%Busy
noon–1 pm96655%Moderate
1–2 pm88351%Moderate
2–3 pm78745%Moderate
3–4 pm83848%Moderate
4–5 pm54431%Quiet
5–6 pm30818%Quiet
6–7 pm25014%Quiet
7–8 pm1579%Quiet
8–9 pm473%Quiet
9–10 pm50%Quiet
10–11 pm00%Quiet
11 pm–midnight00%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at MSY

The three busiest and three quietest hours for each part of the week. Quiet hours count only daytime hours (5 am to 11 pm) when screening is running.

MSY · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday6–7 am (85%)9–10 am (80%)noon–1 pm (78%)10–11 am (43%)6–8 pm (11%)
Friday6–8 am (87%)9–10 am (91%)10–11 am (32%)6–8 pm (12%)
Saturday5–7 am (67%)11 am–noon (72%)4–7 pm (14%)
Sunday5–7 am (93%)noon–1 pm (93%)10–11 am (45%)6–8 pm (29%)

MSY security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 1 checkpoint at MSY. Posted hours come from the airport and carry the date we checked them. "Screening seen" is the span of hours in which TSA counted at least a few passengers on a typical day, not posted opening hours.

MSY checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 · facts checked Nov 2026
CheckpointWhereLanesHoursTypical busiest hourShare
Security checkpointLevel 2 of the terminalCLEAR3:30 am until 30 minutes before the last departure6–7 am100%

How early should I get to MSY?

Our rule of thumb starts from 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one, then adjusts for how busy MSY's checkpoints typically are at the hour you will reach them. Set your flight below.

Flight
Options
For MSY, Sunday 10:00 am, domestic, checked bagGet to MSY by 7:40 amLeave by 7:10 am · 140 min before departure
  • Domestic flight120 min
  • Security busy at that hour+20 min

Our own rule of thumb, not a TSA rule: 2 hours for domestic and 3 for international, -15 min with no checked bag, -15 with PreCheck, +20 if you are parking, then -15 / +0 / +20 min when security is typically quiet, moderate or busy at the hour you reach it. Always check your airline's bag-drop and boarding cut-offs.

MSY arrival times on a typical Sunday

MSY · Sunday · checked bag, no PreCheck · our rule of thumb
DepartureSecurity at that hourDomestic: arrive byInternational: arrive by
6 amQuiet4:15 am (105 min)3:15 am (165 min)
8 amBusy5:40 am (140 min)4:40 am (200 min)
10 amBusy7:40 am (140 min)6:40 am (200 min)
noonModerate10:00 am (120 min)8:40 am (200 min)
3 pmBusy12:40 pm (140 min)11:40 am (200 min)
6 pmBusy3:40 pm (140 min)2:40 pm (200 min)
9 pmQuiet7:15 pm (105 min)6:00 pm (180 min)

The level is read at the hour you would reach security, so a flight's own departure hour can differ. More on the rules and every airport: how early to arrive at the airport.

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at MSY

  • Security checkpoint (Level 2 of the terminal): CLEAR. Source.

Lanes as listed on MSY's own website, checked Nov 2026; checkpoints not listed here have no lane information yet. TSA's counts do not split PreCheck from standard lanes. See PreCheck wait times and CLEAR vs PreCheck.

MSY security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at MSY?

On a typical Sunday, MSY's checkpoints are busiest from 4 to 7 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 6–7 am on Mondays, with a median of 1,742 people screened.

What is the best time to go through security at MSY?

Saturday is the quietest day overall. On Sundays, the quietest daytime window is 10–11 am, 6–8 pm.

How early should I get to MSY?

Our rule of thumb starts at 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one, then adds 20 minutes when security is typically busy at the hour you arrive and takes off 15 when it is quiet. For a 10 am domestic flight on a Sunday with a checked bag, that means getting to MSY by 7:40 am.

How many security checkpoints does MSY have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 1 screening checkpoint at MSY in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, Security checkpoint, screens about 100% of MSY's passengers.

Sources for MSY

  • Hourly passengers: TSA throughput counts (FOIA reading room), weeks of Sep 13, 2026, Sep 20, 2026, Sep 27, 2026, Oct 4, 2026, Oct 11, 2026, Oct 18, 2026, Oct 25, 2026, Nov 1, 2026. Median of 8 weeks, holiday weeks left out.
  • Official wait page: flymsy.com/security-checkpoint/, checked Nov 2026.
  • Checkpoint facts: airport website, checked Nov 2026. Each checkpoint name links to its source.
  • How the levels are built: methodology. TSA Wait Checker is not affiliated with TSA or Louis Armstrong New Orleans International.

TSA wait times at other airports

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