About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Atlanta to New Orleans. While takeoff favors the right, the landing approach offers more dramatic and distinctive scenery with the Mississippi River's iconic crescent bend and New Orleans' urban geography. The river crossing is the flight's most visually compelling moment.
What can I see during takeoff from DeKalb Peachtree Airport in Atlanta?
During takeoff from DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats offer views of Atlanta's urban sprawl and the Piedmont region as the aircraft climbs southwestward. You'll see the city grid fade into suburban development and tree-covered terrain typical of northern Georgia. Notable sights include: Downtown Atlanta skyline, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (visible to the south), suburban sprawl extending toward the Piedmont plateau, forested rolling terrain.
What can I see when landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International in New Orleans?
When landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats provide views of the Mississippi River and the New Orleans metropolitan area during descent. The river's distinctive curves and the city's location on the crescent bend are striking visual references as you approach from the northeast. Notable sights include: Mississippi River with its characteristic meanders, Lake Pontchartrain to the north, New Orleans city grid and the French Quarter area, industrial port facilities along the river.
How long is the flight from Atlanta to New Orleans?
The flight from DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) takes Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
What does the Atlanta to New Orleans flight path pass over?
The flight path crosses central Georgia and Alabama, passing over the Chattahoochee River valley, then enters Mississippi. Notable midpoint features include the rolling Piedmont terrain giving way to the Gulf Coastal Plain, scattered lakes and reservoirs in central Alabama, and the transition from deciduous forest to increasingly flat, swampy terrain as you approach Louisiana. The landscape becomes progressively flatter and more water-logged as you move south toward the Mississippi Delta region.