Lehigh Valley Airport (ABE) is the second smallest airport for an urban area of this size in the country. The smallest is four miles from Mexico in southern Texas. Unlike southern Texas, the problem is that instead of LVIA relieving the pressure on overcrowded Newark and Philadelphia Airport, the Airlines only give LViA minimal service because it is relatively easy to drive to the larger airports.

The facility is small, updated, and convenient if you are being dropped off. The Parking is expensive, though. The  check in procedures are simple and quick. The staff of LVIA that I came in contact with were helpful and pleasant. The downside of this airport comes if your flight is delayed and you are stuck in the terminal. Currently, the LVIA terminal only offers two food options, a Subway and a independent bar/cafe. The Subway is awful. It is very dirty, they do not accept anything but cash, and they have raised the menu prices due to their hegemony within the terminal. Overall, the Subway is completely taking advantage of the captive travel clientele. The bar/cafe is equally problematic but since it is presenting itself in a semi-clean manner it immediately is a better option than the Subway. Overall the bar/cafe is ok but nothing more. There is also a traditional newsstand that features small snack type foods and reading materials. I considered eating a magazine.

Overall the LVIA offers local air services with little to no frills. One of the few positives comes from the presence of free wi-fi and a large number of open outlets for charging.However, the terminal features a single dated boxy big screen standard definition television to ensure the 1990's basement vibe

Let's count the ways that this place is useless shall we:

1.  Sky high Lehigh Valley International Airport Parking prices

2.  Super limited departures

3.  Awful food choices

4.  A comical number of gates considering the lack of flights

5.  Consistently higher prices than PHL, EWR, and usually AVP or HAR - $200 to $300 a ticket more!

6.  Extra fees for using this airport brought on by an idiotic lawsuit that the former director got the Airport Authority into.

When discussing the exhorbitant prices, perhaps it should be pointed out that there is virtually none of the travel hassle you get at EWR or Philly. So if you're as rich as Croesus, then throw it around and enjoy the tiny byo-food atmosphere of ABE. If not, then stiff upper lip baby, and see you in Joisey.

10042017