PJI

My parents are supposed to come and visit me in November here in Spain. Since New Orleans (the closest airport to them) is closed and will not resume regular flights anytime soon, I was wondering if anyone knew (or knew a website where I could find out) the next closest airport to them with a carrier that flies direct to Madrid. Since they are going to have to drive to another airport anyway I was hoping to get one that flew direct to Madrid to save my mother one more flight (she hates to fly) making it only two flights instead of three. I know you can go direct from Miami and NY but those are too far. Any thoughts?

Intrepid1

Atlanta comes to mind but not certain unless Delta has a direct Madrid flight.

Intrepid1

Yes, Delta has a direct flight

AAFrequentFlyer

Let's get some things straight here. New Orleans airport is scheduled to open today, yes, today.

<b>http://www.flymsy.com/</b>

If not, then Baton Rouge, about an hour drive from NO is open and operating. No direct flights from there but it's only an hour drive. With connection it's still beats a drive to Atlanta to catch a non-stop.

Atlanta is almost 500 miles away. Do you really want them to drive 10 hours so they could catch a non-sto flight?

AAFrequentFlyer

ARMSTRONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SET TO RE-OPEN
AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --- September 10, 2005; 2:30 p.m. --- The Louis
Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has set Tuesday, September 13 as the
date to re-open the Airport to scheduled passenger air service following the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. Cargo Flights will resume immediately.
Armstrong International Airport has been operational since Tuesday, August 30 for
humanitarian relief flights and civilian and military rescue efforts. During the nearly 2
weeks since Katrina devastated the City and region, Armstrong International has seen a
flurry of activity with over 30,000 evacuees departing on flights provided by commercial
air carriers and the military. The peak day for departures was Saturday, September 3
with more than 10,000 people being evacuated on flights that day. This compares with
13,000 daily departing customers on an average day before the storm.
Armstrong International will resume operations in only a portion of the main terminal
building. All passenger flights will operate out of Concourses A and B initially.
Concourses C and D will continue to be utilized for the direct relief effort.
“We are extremely pleased to reopen Armstrong International to commercial air service,”
stated Roy Williams, Director of Aviation. “Scheduled passenger and cargo service
enhances the Airport’s ability to support the City and region in its recovery.”
The Airport’s efforts to resume scheduled service have been supported by the US Army
82nd Airborne (which is currently based at Armstrong International), the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), many state and
local emergency management and law enforcement agencies, most notably the
Jefferson Parish Sheriffs office, the Federal Emergency Management Administration
(FEMA) and all of its air carriers. This team has worked together to set the earliest
possible date for the resumption of service without compromising any of the many relief
efforts that are based out of Armstrong International.

PJI

Yes, I read that the airport would be opening today but with very limited flights. Some carriers are still contemplating if/when they will return. It will take quite a while to return to normal services and I don't think that will be done by early November. Hence the question about where else they can go.

AAFrequentFlyer

Limited or not, if you check Expedia you will find MANY offerings of MSY-connection-MAD flights in November for ~$600.

Intrepid1 is correct in that Atlanta would be the closest airport offering a non-stop to MAD, but again, it is a 10 hour drive.

If you are concerned with MSY then Baton Rouge is your next obvious choice. It will have a connection.

I don't understand why you are concerned with MSY. All the majors will start their regular (maybe just a bit less) scheduled flights today.

By November it should be back to full schedule.

AAFrequentFlyer

$576.95



12:30 pm Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 14hr 0mn US Airways 6530 / 7463 / 12
Connect in Washington DC (IAD), Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)





12:50 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 8:14 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 24mn US Airways 11 / 27
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$632.95



1:56 pm Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 8:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 11hr 34mn American Airlines 2119 / 68
Connect in Miami (MIA)





11:15 am Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 9:47 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 17hr 32mn American Airlines 69 / 1263
Connect in Miami (MIA)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$649.95



10:25 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 16hr 5mn AirTran Airways 156 / 191
US Airways 12
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.), Washington DC (DCA)
Total stops: 3





12:50 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 8:14 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 24mn US Airways 11 / 27
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$665.95



9:50 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 16hr 40mn Delta 230 / 1441
Spanair 9752
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.), Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)





12:50 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 7:55 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 5mn Spanair 9751 / 9769
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$666.95



9:50 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 16hr 40mn Delta 230 / 1441
US Airways 12
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.), Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)





12:50 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 8:14 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 24mn US Airways 11 / 27
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$713.95



10:25 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 16hr 5mn AirTran Airways 156
Delta 1441
US Airways 12
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.), Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)





12:50 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 8:14 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 24mn US Airways 11 / 27
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$732.95



1:12 pm Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:05 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 12hr 53mn Delta 368 / 108
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)





11:10 am Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 6:28 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 18mn Delta 109 / 1584
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$732.95



1:56 pm Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 8:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 11hr 34mn American Airlines 2119 / 68
Connect in Miami (MIA)





12:05 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 9:47 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 16hr 42mn American Airlines 7609 / 1263
Connect in Miami (MIA)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$732.95



9:50 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:05 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 16hr 15mn Delta 230 / 108
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)





11:10 am Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 6:28 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 18mn Delta 109 / 1584
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$770.71
Special Fare

Additional restrictions apply
1:56 pm Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 8:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 11hr 34mn American Airlines 2119
Iberia 7000
Connect in Miami (MIA)





11:15 am Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 9:47 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 17hr 32mn Iberia 7001
American Airlines 1263
Connect in Miami (MIA)



Choose this flight


$770.71
Special Fare

Additional restrictions apply
6:00 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 7:45 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 18hr 45mn American Airlines 2135
Iberia 6122
Connect in Miami (MIA)





11:15 am Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 9:47 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 17hr 32mn Iberia 7001
American Airlines 1263
Connect in Miami (MIA)



Choose this flight


$770.71
Special Fare

Additional restrictions apply
6:00 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 8:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 19hr 30mn American Airlines 2135
Iberia 7000
Connect in Miami (MIA)





11:15 am Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 9:47 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 17hr 32mn Iberia 7001
American Airlines 1263
Connect in Miami (MIA)



Choose this flight


$799.95



12:30 pm Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 14hr 0mn US Airways 6530 / 7463 / 12
Connect in Washington DC (IAD), Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)





12:50 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 8:14 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 24mn US Airways 11
United Airlines 2727
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$803.45



11:45 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:30 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 14hr 45mn Continental 617 / 2224
US Airways 12
Connect in Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)





12:50 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 8:14 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 24mn US Airways 11 / 27
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$803.95



2:56 pm Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:05 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 11hr 9mn AirTran Airways 158
Delta 108
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)





11:10 am Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 6:28 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 18mn Delta 109 / 1584
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$803.95



10:25 am Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:05 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 15hr 40mn AirTran Airways 156
Delta 108
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)





11:10 am Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 6:28 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 18mn Delta 109 / 1584
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight


$805.95



1:12 pm Depart New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive Madrid (MAD) 9:05 am +1 day Tue 8-Nov
Duration: 12hr 53mn Delta 368 / 108
Connect in Atlanta (Hartsfield Intl.)





12:50 pm Depart Madrid (MAD)
Arrive New Orleans (MSY) 8:14 pm Tue 22-Nov
Duration: 14hr 24mn US Airways 11 / 27
Connect in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Intl.)



Preview seat availability Choose this flight

Intrepid1

The question was, as i recall, the &quot;next closest&quot; airport with a carrier that flies direct to Madrid.

It was NOT the airport that isn't a days' drive away or the airport that is the next closest to wherever these people live (an undisclosed location)..

PJI

Thanks Intrepid1 for answering my question. Also thank you to AAFrequentFlyer, although your tone could easily be misunderstood as harsh, the information is appreciated none the less.

rkkwan

There were no non-stop flights MSY-MAD anyways. But if they worry about driving into or near MSY - just for example, traffic in November - then why not book from BTR, just in case?

AAFrequentFlyer

My tone?

I tried to explain couple of things. One that there really is not much to worry about MSY. It's open, operating a limited schedule at this time, but getting new flights everyday. By November it should be back to almost full operations. After all, the city needs the airport to get into full swing. Lots of insurance, construction, medical personnel will need reliable transportation to the city.
I also suggested Baton Rouge as the alternative.
I questioned the ATL option only because it's a looong drive. Intrepid1 was correct in suggesting ATL as the closest airport with a non-stop service to MAD, but I pointed out the fact that a 10 hour drive was not really worth it.
Sorry that you misunderstood my suggestions as &quot;harsh&quot;, but after rereading my posts I plead innocent to the charges.
Whatever you decide, good luck and hope your parents have a safe and a great visit with you!
BTW, My job is sending me to MSY next week. Regular scheduled flight.

twk

AA: I think you are overly sanguine about the prospects for flights returning to normal at MSY. With so much of the population base being displaced for the long term, it is inevitable that the major carriers will eventually acknowledge that they have cut back drastically on flights to MSY. BTR will pick up a lot of the traffic, but some of it is gone for the foreseeable future.

Still, your point about finding a connecting flight from MSY is probably valid--if the airport is operating, and you're still in the area, probably no reason not to fly out of MSY.