Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Use an ATM with a no-fee card — the ATM gives you the real mid-market rate, while airport exchange booths charge 10–20% above it. On a $500 exchange, that difference is $50–100 in hidden costs.
The key rule
Airport currency exchange booths typically charge 10–20% above the mid-market rate.
On a $500 exchange, that is $50–100 in hidden fees. The ATM is almost always better — even with a bank fee. And with a no-fee card, the ATM is unambiguously better.
MSY has no operating currency-exchange counter in the current terminal (opened November 2019). A Travelex booth is still listed by several older airport guides, but Travelex exited the US and Canadian markets in 2021 and was never replaced at MSY.
With no exchange counter running, there is nowhere at MSY to convert cash even if you wanted to — and airport exchange counters typically run 12-20% above the mid-market rate anyway, so this isn't a loss. Plan to get foreign currency before you fly or withdraw it after landing at your destination instead.
ATMs are located throughout the terminal, both before and after the TSA checkpoint, across all three concourses (A, B, and C) and near the Level 1 baggage claim area.
MSY's terminal ATMs dispense US dollars only — they don't help with foreign currency. They're fine for domestic cash needs, but for international trips a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit or travel card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) used at an ATM abroad will get you a far better rate than any airport exchange service would.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for MSY
Since MSY has no functioning currency-exchange counter, arrange foreign currency before departure (your bank, Wise, or an online order for pickup) or withdraw local currency after arrival using a no-foreign-transaction-fee card. Don't count on converting cash at the airport.
Pro Tip
MSY runs real international service — Air France to Paris–CDG, British Airways to London–Heathrow, and seasonal routes to Mexico (Cancún) and the Caribbean/Central America all depart from Concourse A — but that doesn't come with currency-exchange infrastructure. Also note: Louisiana's Tax Free Shopping program for international visitors, which used to offer a sales-tax refund counter near the MSY checkpoint, ended statewide on July 1, 2024, so don't look for a refund desk there anymore.
Before you leave
Order foreign currency from your bank before departure — Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo all offer currency ordering at branches and online (3–7 business days). Rates are better than airport booths, and you avoid the airport rush entirely.
At your destination
Withdraw from a local ATM at your destination — you get the real mid-market exchange rate, minus a small network fee. A no-fee card eliminates even that. This is almost always the cheapest option.
In transit
Currency exchange at city banks or post offices in your destination country is typically far better than airport rates in both countries. Most major cities have walk-in currency exchange with rates 5–10% better than airport booths.
Is it better to exchange currency at MSY airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport charge 10-20% above the mid-market rate. At your destination, ATMs give the real interbank rate minus a small network fee — typically saving $50-100 on a $500 exchange versus the airport booth.
Where are the ATMs at MSY airport?
ATMs are located throughout the terminal, both before and after the TSA checkpoint, across all three concourses (A, B, and C) and near the Level 1 baggage claim area. MSY's terminal ATMs dispense US dollars only — they don't help with foreign currency. They're fine for domestic cash needs, but for international trips a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit or travel card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) used at an ATM abroad will get you a far better rate than any airport exchange service would.
Which currency exchange is at MSY airport?
MSY has no operating currency-exchange counter in the current terminal (opened November 2019). A Travelex booth is still listed by several older airport guides, but Travelex exited the US and Canadian markets in 2021 and was never replaced at MSY. With no exchange counter running, there is nowhere at MSY to convert cash even if you wanted to — and airport exchange counters typically run 12-20% above the mid-market rate anyway, so this isn't a loss. Plan to get foreign currency before you fly or withdraw it after landing at your destination instead.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at MSY?
The Charles Schwab debit card is the top choice — it reimburses all ATM fees worldwide and charges 0% on international transactions, giving you the real mid-market exchange rate. Wise and Revolut travel cards are strong alternatives with similar 0% fee structures. Avoid using a standard bank debit card, which typically charges 1-3% foreign transaction fee plus an ATM surcharge of $3-5.
See also: Getting around MSY airport · Live MSY TSA wait times
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