Travel Tips & FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
American Airlines
American has frequent daily flights to its Charlotte (CLT), Washington, D.C. (DCA), and Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) hubs.
Delta Air Lines
Delta has frequent daily flights to its Atlanta (ATL) hub.
United Airlines
United has frequent daily flights to its Houston (IAH) hub.
Passengers can fly to and from destinations worldwide connecting through these hubs, most with a single connection. American, Delta and United are three of the world's largest airlines; and through their global airline partnerships, they provide more access to the world than any other airlines.
The airport terminal building never closes. The hours of operation for the airline ticket counters are below, but since they are subject to change, you may want to confirm the time with your airline.
American
5:00 am - 6:00 pm
Delta
4:00 am - 6:00 pm
United
4:00 am - 7:30 pm
TSA Check-In
4:00 am - 7:30 pm
Most airlines recommend you arrive 60-90 minutes before your scheduled departure time. If you are checking luggage, you MUST be checked in at least 30 minutes prior to the flight departure time.
There are two options for parking at BTR. Parking in the garage adjacent to the terminal is $12 per day; economy parking, located behind the garage, is $9 per day. Although there are a limited number of covered spaces in economy parking, the majority are uncovered.
Passenger pick-up and drop-off is located in front of the terminal building. While you may pick up or drop off passengers in front of the terminal, cars may not be left unattended. Cars left unattended are subject to ticketing and/or towing. If you want to escort the passenger inside or meet an arriving passenger in the terminal, please park in the terminal-front garage.
You can check the flight status on the home page of BTR’s website. Other sources for obtaining flight information in addition to the real-time data on our site include:
Flight Tracking
American Airlines – www.aa.com
Delta Air Lines – www.delta.com
United Airlines – www.united.com
The airlines are responsible for updating the flight information system, which updates the monitors in the terminal. This same information is fed to our website.
Please contact your airline if your luggage does not arrive. If an airline employee is not in the baggage claim area, please go to the airline’s ticket counter or call the toll-free number for the airline. A lost bag claim report may need to be filed.
No identification is required for children. Adults 18 and over are required to present acceptable identification. For more information about ID requirements, go to http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm.
Representatives from the Baton Rouge Metro Airport (BTR) meet with multiple airlines each year to seek new or expanded service, including both current airlines and those not yet serving the airport, such as Southwest. Today, four airlines control 85% of domestic seating capacity due to industry consolidation. BTR is served by three of these—American, Delta, and United—global airlines that connect Baton Rouge to destinations worldwide with frequent flights to major hub airports. Many of these flights now use larger, dual-class regional jets or mainline aircraft.
Airlines analyze potential routes based on profitability, considering factors such as passenger demand, hub connectivity, aircraft and pilot availability, and competition at both BTR and nearby airports. Network airlines (like American, Delta, and United) rely on hub connectivity, making them a better fit for smaller airports like BTR. In contrast, low-cost carriers focus on larger markets, filling planes with passengers going to a single destination. Slot and gate availability at hub airports also impact the timing and success of new routes.
Proximity to other airports can be a deterrent for airlines, particularly low-cost carriers, as they avoid duplicating routes in nearby regions. Airlines use multiple sources of market intelligence to evaluate passenger demand, profitability, and competitive pressures. Sometimes, the decision is not just about whether a route can be profitable, but whether it is more profitable than existing routes or other new options. This is especially true at slot-controlled airports like Washington Reagan (DCA), where adding a flight means reallocating slots from other routes.
Aircraft and pilot shortages further limit growth opportunities. Most airlines have been replacing aircraft on a one-for-one basis, with limited fleet expansion. Supporting existing service at BTR is critical—airlines assess load factors (the percentage of seats filled) to justify new flights. The more passengers that choose BTR, the stronger the case for additional service.
Incentives, particularly from third-party sources, can play a key role. While BTR offers fee waivers and advertising funds, other incentives like revenue guarantees must come from non-airport sources. Commitments from high-volume travel generators, such as corporations or large organizations, can also influence airlines’ decisions. If your company or organization can commit to using potential new nonstop flights, we welcome your input.
In summary, airline route decisions are driven by profitability, competitive positioning, and operational constraints. Supporting existing flights and providing incentives can strengthen BTR’s case for new service.