When is the Seattle 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.

SEA to MSY Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Seattle to New Orleans flight turbulent?

The SEA–MSY route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SEA 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 SEA to MSY?

The SEA to MSY flight takes approximately 4h 30m, covering 2,084 miles at 35,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SEA

→

MSY

Seattle · New Orleans · 4h 30m

15.1

Turb Score

4h 30m

Duration

1,811 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SEA–MSY

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h4h 30m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SEA–MSY route

The Seattle to New Orleans domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 2,084 miles at around 35,000 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 United, American Airlines, Delta on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 2,084 miles (1,811 nautical miles).

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

Seattle to New Orleans Flight Time

How long is the flight from SEA to MSY?

4h 30m

Flight Time

2,084 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Seattle (SEA) to New Orleans (MSY) flight takes approximately 4h 30m, covering 2,084 miles (1,811 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on SEA–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 SEA–MSY

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SEA–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 → SEA

New Orleans → Seattle

Smooth

SEA → LAX

Seattle → 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

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

Business traveler · January

Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 4h 30m went by fast.

First-time passenger · September

Did Seattle to New Orleans last January and it was genuinely one of the smoothest long-haul flights I've had. Barely any movement the whole way.

Frequent flyer · January

All SEA routes→ All MSY routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Seattle to New Orleans flight turbulent?

The SEA–MSY route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 15.1/100.

When is turbulence worst on SEA 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 SEA 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 SEA to MSY?

The SEA to MSY flight takes approximately 4h 30m, covering 2,084 miles (1,811 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SEA to MSY?

The main airlines operating this route are United, American Airlines, Delta, 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