Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Tampa to New Orleans. While takeoff favors the right, the landing view of the Mississippi River's meanders and New Orleans is geographically more dramatic and memorable. The river approach is the signature visual of this route.

During takeoff from Tampa International (TPA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right side captures Tampa Bay's eastern shoreline and the city grid as you climb out westbound. You'll see the distinctive bay geometry and coastal development that defines Tampa's geography. Notable sights include: Tampa Bay (the large shallow estuary), Hillsborough River delta, downtown Tampa skyline, Clearwater Beach barrier islands to the northwest.

When landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left side on approach to MSY gives you the Mississippi River's dramatic meanders and the New Orleans metropolitan area. The river's oxbow bends are unmistakable and the approach typically uses easterly runways, positioning the river on your left. Notable sights include: Mississippi River with visible meanders and oxbow lakes, Lake Pontchartrain to the north, New Orleans city grid and French Quarter, industrial corridor along the river.

The flight from Tampa International (TPA) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) takes Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

The flight path crosses the Florida Panhandle's interior (relatively featureless), then transitions over the Gulf of Mexico. You'll pass over the northern Gulf coast near the Alabama-Mississippi border. The most notable midpoint feature is the transition from Florida's flat terrain to the Gulf's open water, with occasional oil platforms visible in the northern Gulf. As you approach Louisiana, the Mississippi Delta's complex network of bayous and waterways becomes visible before the river itself dominates the final approach.