Holiday Travel at ABE

December 19th, 2022

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year just might be one of the most stressful times to travel, but ABE is here to help make your trip merry and bright!

PARKING

For everyone arriving at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), one of the most important concerns is Parking.

If you’re being dropped off or are giving someone a ride, you should follow signs for DEPARTURES / CHECK-IN to the upper level of the terminal where airline counters are located. Luggage carts are available in each of the entrance vestibules. For wheelchair assistance, please call Passenger Services at (610) 266-6000.

ABE has Short-Term and Long-Term parking lots available. Both are conveniently located next to the terminal, and reservations are not needed. The parking rates for both lots are $2 per hour. The Short-Term lot is $22 per day, while the Long-Term lot is $14 per day and $79 per week.

Handicapped parking is available in each parking lot. There are also spots closer to the terminal for Moms to Be and Combat Wounded Veterans, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles.

You must take a ticket to enter either lot. Keep that ticket in a safe place as you will need it to pay for parking when you leave. There is a Pay on Foot kiosk inside the terminal, as well as outside on the way to your vehicle. You can also pay at the exit booth before leaving.

The Pay on Foot and exit booth kiosks accept a variety of payment options including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express credit cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and contactless payment. If paying in cash, please note that you can only do so at the Pay on Foot kiosk inside the terminal.

There is an overflow lot on-site which is opened on an as needed basis. Shuttle service is operated when the overflow lot is open and at peak travel times of the year. Shuttle hours are typically 4am to 5pm.

CHECKING IN

Make check-in for your flight easy by visiting your airline’s website for baggage rules and requirements ahead of time as they vary from airline to airline. You can also download the airline’s app to check-in (which is especially convenient if you are not checking a bag) and receive flight status updates.

For passengers who will be using either of the landline buses to travel to Newark on United or to Philadelphia on American, you should check in at the airline ticket counter like you do for a flight (unless you have checked in via the app). You will then need to proceed to the Multimodal Transportation Center by following the covered walkway to the bus loop located outside Baggage Claim on the lower level to board.

TSA CHECKPOINT

With a higher passenger volume around the holidays, you may experience delays and longer lines. Arriving two hours prior to your scheduled departure time is the recommendation for all flights, but as we get closer to the holidays that may increase. You can now check the current TSA Checkpoint wait times HERE.

You can also enroll in the TSA PreCheck® program. Passengers with TSA PreCheck® can use an expedited security lane, and you can leave your belt/shoes on!

Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the Airport checkpoint in order to travel. A list of acceptable forms of identification can be found HERE on the TSA website. For those curious about needing a REAL ID to travel, it won’t be mandatory to have one until May 2025. Visit the TSA website for more information.

You are highly encouraged to go HERE on the TSA website and review the list of approved and, more importantly, what’s not approved for carrying through the checkpoint. As you may know, there are limits on liquids going through the checkpoint.

The TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule is simple: 3.4 oz or smaller containers of aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes can be stored in one quart-size resealable bag and only one bag is allowed per person.

If you are concerned about hydration, we have filtered water Hydration Stations in the gate area. There is also a liquid dumping station before the TSA checkpoint so you can empty your refillable water bottles before screening and refill them once you are through the checkpoint.

AMENITIES

ABE has many amenities to help make the time waiting for your flight more enjoyable. The Makala A. Ashmar Military Resource Center is available for active and veteran military passengers and their families, and the Sensory Room is a quiet place for passengers with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities to relax. The Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital Play Area is a great place for families with younger children, and if you need something to read, please check out the Airport Book Exchange bookshelf near Gate 7B.

ABE has electronic device charging stations located in the gate area. There are also FuelRod kiosks outside of the TSA checkpoint and in the gate area near Gate 9 where you can purchase or exchange portable device chargers.

CONCESSIONS

Whether you are looking for a coffee, a snack, or a sit-down meal, hungry travelers waiting for their flight can choose from the grab-and-go offerings of the Canteen Smart Market vending machines, relax in the PA Pub, or head over to Dunkin’. Smart Market vending machines are also available on the lower level of the main terminal by the TSA checkpoint and in the Landline Bus vestibule at the Multimodal Transportation Center.

Spirit of Lehigh News & Gifts is a fun stop for souvenirs like Just Born PEEPS products, Iron Pigs and Phantoms logo items, magazines, or to find that one thing you forgot to pack. (We’ve all been there!)

TRANSPORTATION

Car Rentals are located on the lower level of the main terminal in the Baggage Claim area. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty are ready to get you in a car and off to explore the Lehigh valley.

If you are booked at one of the local hotels with a shuttle service, you can meet the shuttle outside of the terminal on the lower level next to the rental car parking lot.

Approved taxi and limousine services also pick up in this area.

ABE is a designated stop for LANTA bus service and Trans-bridge Lines. LANTA schedules are located at the Passenger Services desk on the lower level of the main terminal, and you can visit the Trans-bridge website HERE. Both bus services operate in the Multimodal Transportation Center located outside of Baggage Claim by following the covered walkway to the left.

For those passengers using Lyft or Uber, the rideshare sheltered waiting area is located on the upper-level roadway just outside the second floor of the main terminal.

A Cell Phone Waiting Area is available for drivers picking up passengers. It is free of charge, with a 30-minute time limit, and drivers must remain in their vehicles at all times.

COVID-19 Guidance

As of this blog post, masks are not required inside of ABE or on commercial flights operating at ABE, but please be aware of any particular requirements at your destination. While COVID travel restrictions have lessened, it is important to keep informed of changes as the winter season approaches. Masks are available at the Passenger Services desk on the lower level of the main terminal.

Thank you for choosing Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) this holiday season. We wish you safe travels and a pleasant experience at Your neighborhood Airport!