Catching an early flight from the Northshore: the 4 a.m. checklist

Early flights are often the cheapest and the most reliable, but a 6 a.m. departure out of New Orleans means a very early start on the Northshore. Here's how to make the morning simple.

When to leave home

Work backward from your flight. Most travelers aim to be at the terminal about two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. Then add the drive:

• Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville: about 45 minutes to an hour via the Causeway and I-10.
• Slidell, Pearl River, Lacombe: about an hour via I-10.
• Hammond, Ponchatoula: about an hour via I-55 and I-10.

For a 6 a.m. flight from Mandeville, that usually means a pickup around 3:00 to 3:30 a.m. Roads are quiet that early, but a little cushion never hurts. Book with your flight number and we'll recommend the exact pickup time for your address.

The night before

1. Check in online and save your boarding pass to your phone.
2. Pack and weigh your bags, and set them by the door.
3. Put your ID, wallet, phone charger and medications in your carry-on.
4. Lay out what you'll wear, and set two alarms.
5. Confirm your ride. With us, you'll already have it in writing.

The morning of

• Your driver arrives early and texts when they're outside.
• Grab your bags, lock the door, and go. We load the luggage.
• You're dropped right at departures. No shuttle from the parking lot, no hunting for a space.

Why not drive and park?

Driving yourself at 3:30 a.m. is fine on the way out, but a week of airport parking adds up, and coming home means finding your car after a long flight. A round-trip booking means your driver tracks your return flight and meets you when you land, even if it's late.

More on getting to and from the airport: New Orleans airport to the Northshore and MSY airport transportation.

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