Route guide · 302 miles
Cheap Flights from Houston to New Orleans
HOU → MSY · Nonstop 1h 7m · Live round-trip fares
Looking for cheap flights from Houston to New Orleans? You're in the right place. Airfare Deal tracks live fares on this 302-mile route around the clock. As a rule of thumb, booking 2–4 weeks ahead lands the best prices — and a free fare alert means you never have to keep refreshing the page.
Live fares for HOU → MSY are updating. Use the search below for real-time prices.
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See live fares
Updated daily
Flight time
1h 7m
Nonstop, typical
Distance
302 mi
HOU → MSY
Book ahead
2–4 weeks
Best window, typically
Nonstop airlines
1
Southwest Airlines
Nonstop flights from Houston to New Orleans
The fastest way between the two cities is the nonstop: about 1h 7m for the 302-mile run from HOU to MSY. Those flights are flown by Southwest Airlines. Prices behave best when you book 2–4 weeks out.
Booking insights: Houston → New Orleans
- Distance: 302 miles · nonstop flight time: 1h 7m.
- Cheapest upcoming week in the live data starts around Oct 22, with fares from $95.
- Fares tend to bottom out when you book about 2–4 weeks ahead — earlier than that rarely helps, later usually hurts.
- If your dates flex by a day or two, shifting to a midweek departure is the easiest saving there is.
- A free fare alert beats daily checking: we watch this route and ping you when prices drop.
Price trend
Cheapest departure weeks ahead
Departing around Oct 22 is currently the cheapest window — about $33 less than the nearest weeks. Based on recent fares found for this route; prices change quickly.
Cheapest month · Houston → New Orleans
October 2026
Every date's recent round-trip fare, at a glance.
Fares from
$95
Cheapest: Wed, Oct 28 — $95 · Priciest: Oct 30 — $164
Get this fare →Recent fares found for specific dates in October 2026. Blank days had no recent fare in our data — ask our team and we'll check them for you.
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Flying from Houston to New Orleans: what you need to know
The flight
At 302 miles, HOU to MSY is one of those quick up-and-down flights: roughly 1h 7m nonstop. There's no meal service to plan around — the decisions that matter here are departure time and which airport entrance traffic is kinder to you.
Airlines on this route
Southwest Airlines flies this route nonstop. That matters more than it sounds: the cheapest fare on one carrier is rarely the same product as the cheapest on another. Checked-bag fees, free seat selection and change rules all differ, so compare the full trip cost before you pick a winner. See our airline guides for exactly what each carrier charges — then send an enquiry and we'll confirm the all-in price for your dates.
Leaving from Houston (HOU)
Plan to be at the airport two hours before a domestic departure — ninety minutes can work at smaller airports outside peak times, but security lines are the one variable you can't control. If you're checking a bag, add time rather than cutting it close. Our Houston airport guide covers terminals, parking and ground transport so you can plan the trip to the airport, not just the flight.
Arriving in New Orleans (MSY)
Before you land, know how you're getting from the airport to where you're staying — it's the part of the trip people forget to plan. The New Orleans airport guide lays out your ground options, from transit and shuttles to rideshares and rental cars. Flying back the other way? Check New Orleans to Houston fares — prices on the return direction often move on a different rhythm.
When to book
For a trip of 302 miles, booking 2–4 weeks ahead typically lands you in the sweet spot. Leave it to the final two weeks and prices usually climb as the cheapest seats sell out. If your dates are flexible, midweek departures are where the lower fares hide on most domestic routes.
Good to know before you go
- Basic economy fares often exclude checked bags and seat selection. Price the whole trip, not the headline fare.
- Get to the airport two hours before departure; security, not the flight, is the part that runs late.
- If you're traveling with only a carry-on, you can skip the bag-drop line entirely with mobile check-in.
- Download the airline's app before you fly; gate changes and delays show up there first.
- Nonstop time on this route is about 1h 7m — a one-stop itinerary needs to be a lot cheaper to be worth the extra hours.
Houston to New Orleans flight FAQs
How long is the flight from HOU to MSY?
Nonstop flights from Houston to New Orleans take about 1h 7m and cover roughly 302 miles. One-stop itineraries add 2–4 hours depending on the layover city.
Are there nonstop flights from Houston to New Orleans?
Southwest Airlines typically operate nonstop flights from HOU to MSY. Nonstops are usually cheapest when booked 2–4 weeks ahead of departure.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Houston to New Orleans?
Travelers usually find the gentlest prices away from peak periods — think post-holiday January and the early-fall weeks. Midweek dates inside those windows are cheaper still.
How much are last minute flights from HOU to MSY?
Book inside the final week and you'll usually pay a premium on HOU to MSY. Fares booked 2–4 weeks ahead are almost always kinder.
What is a good round-trip deal from Houston to New Orleans?
A good deal is anything at or below the recent fares shown above. Set a free Airfare Deal alert and we'll ping you the moment fares drop.
Which airlines fly from Houston to New Orleans?
You'll mainly see Southwest Airlines on Houston to New Orleans. Checking each against the live fares below is the surest way to find the lowest price for your dates.
How early should I get to Houston airport for this flight?
Plan on two hours before departure for a domestic flight — ninety minutes can work at smaller airports outside peak times. If you're checking a bag, earlier is better; the bag-drop line, not the flight, is what runs late.
Do the cheapest fares on this route include a checked bag?
Usually not. Basic economy fares on most airlines include a carry-on but charge extra for checked bags, and seat selection can cost more too. Add up the real total before comparing — a slightly higher regular fare sometimes works out cheaper. Our team confirms the full breakdown with you before you pay.
More cheap flights from Houston
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