New Orleans, United StatesSmoking policy at New Orleans, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking is prohibited inside the terminal by Louisiana state law, this applies to all indoor areas including concourses A, B, and C. Do not smoke directly in front of the terminal entrance doors or near air intakes; designated spots are on the center median of the upper ramp and the curbside of the lower ramp. Exiting airside to smoke and re-entering through TSA typically takes 30 to 40 minutes; missing a flight is a real risk if you attempt this with less than an hour before boarding.
MSY is a fully smoke-free terminal indoors, with smoking permitted only in designated outdoor curbside areas on the upper and lower ramps of the single 2019 terminal. There is no airside smoking at all, once you clear TSA, your only option is to exit the secure zone, smoke outside, and re-screen.
Before Security
There are two outdoor curbside smoking zones, both landside and accessible without a boarding pass:
Level 3 Departures Ramp (upper ramp): This is where you want to smoke before checking in or heading to security. The designated spots are on the center median of the departures ramp, marked with ash receptacles. You cannot smoke directly in front of the terminal entrance doors, step away from the doorways and air intakes.
Level 1 Arrivals Ramp (lower ramp): After collecting your bags, head out the baggage claim doors to the lower curbside. The smoking area here sits near the ground transportation and rideshare pickup zone, so it doubles as a convenient wait while your Uber or taxi arrives.
Both areas are open-air with no shelter from rain or sun, and both are clearly marked with signage.
After Security
There is no smoking area past the TSA checkpoint. Concourses A, B, and C have no indoor smoking rooms, no designated vaping zones, and no airside outdoor terraces. If you need to smoke during a layover, you must exit the secure area entirely, walk to one of the curbside zones, and then re-clear TSA.
The terminal is moderately sized, but the round trip from most gates, including the walk to the checkpoint, re-screening wait, and walk back, typically runs 30 to 40 minutes. Only attempt this if you have comfortable time before boarding.
Lounges
Three lounges operate airside at MSY: The Club MSY (adjacent to the Concourse B entrance, pay-at-door or lounge pass), the Delta Sky Club (adjacent to the Concourse C entrance, Delta elite status or membership), and the United Lounge (Concourse C, Gate C5/C7, United ticket required or membership). None of these lounges have a dedicated smoking area or smoking terrace, so lounge access does not give you any airside smoking option.
Vaping Rules
Vaping and e-cigarette use are treated identically to smoking under Louisiana state law as applied at MSY. You can vape in the same designated outdoor curbside areas on Levels 1 and 3, and nowhere inside the terminal or on the concourses.
Transit and Layovers
If you are connecting through MSY on an international itinerary, you must clear U.S. customs and immigration before you can access the landside smoking areas. After smoking, you re-screen through TSA for your onward flight. Factor in extra time for this.
Bottom Line
Smoke before you go through security on the Level 3 departures ramp, or after landing on the Level 1 arrivals ramp. There are zero airside options, and no lounge at MSY offers a workaround.
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