When is the Charlotte to New Orleans route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

CLT to MSY Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Charlotte to New Orleans flight turbulent?

The CLT–MSY route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on CLT to MSY?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from CLT to MSY?

The CLT to MSY flight takes approximately 1h 55m, covering 651 miles at 33,000 feet.

Is the Charlotte to New Orleans flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

CLT

→

MSY

Charlotte · New Orleans · 1h 55m

17.2

Turb Score

1h 55m

Duration

566 nm

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for CLT–MSY

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 55m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the CLT–MSY route

The Charlotte to New Orleans domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 651 miles at around 33,000 feet. Turbulence is most common when weather systems cross the Midwest or when the flight path skirts the Rocky Mountains. Short duration means any rough patches pass quickly.

The route is served by Southwest, United, American Airlines on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 33,000 feet over a distance of 651 miles (566 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source.

Charlotte to New Orleans Flight Time

How long is the flight from CLT to MSY?

1h 55m

Flight Time

651 mi

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Charlotte (CLT) to New Orleans (MSY) flight takes approximately 1h 55m, covering 651 miles (566 nautical miles) at 33,000 feet. The route is operated by Southwest, United, American Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on CLT–MSY

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly CLT–MSY

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on CLT–MSY

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

MSY → CLT

New Orleans → Charlotte

Smooth

CLT → LAX

Charlotte → Los Angeles

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Related guides

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Best Seat Guide

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When Does Turbulence Happen?

Phases of flight explained

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Totally smooth January flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly on descent but nothing actually happened. Great trip.

Leisure traveler · January

Fly this route pretty regularly for work. Most of the time it's smooth — November was completely fine, not a bump worth mentioning.

Business traveler · November

Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 1h 55m went by fast.

First-time passenger · January

All CLT routes→ All MSY routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Charlotte to New Orleans flight turbulent?

The CLT–MSY route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 17.2/100.

When is turbulence worst on CLT to MSY?

Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on CLT to MSY?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from CLT to MSY?

The CLT to MSY flight takes approximately 1h 55m, covering 651 miles (566 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly CLT to MSY?

The main airlines operating this route are Southwest, United, American Airlines, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data