Airport Security Guide

Allentown (ABE) Security Tips

ABE has 1 security checkpoint with TSA PreCheck lanes. Security is busiest Weekday mornings (roughly 6–8 AM) and Friday/Sunday afternoons, when Allegiant's leisure schedule overlaps with business commuter flights. Use the Leave-By Time calculator to fold the modeled ABE wait forecast, your drive, and gate-walk into one exact departure time.

How many security checkpoints does ABE have?

ABE has 1 security checkpoint across 1 terminal (Main). TSA PreCheck dedicated lanes are available, giving members a faster, bin-free screening experience. PreCheck is open at the main checkpoints during regular screening hours, though an individual lane can close off-peak.

When is ABE security busiest?

ABE security lines are typically longest during Weekday mornings (roughly 6–8 AM) and Friday/Sunday afternoons, when Allegiant's leisure schedule overlaps with business commuter flights. Outside those windows, wait times drop substantially — check the ABE wait forecast for the current picture before you head out. General guidance:

• Domestic flights: arrive at least 2 hours before departure; 2.5 hours during peak periods.
• International flights: arrive at least 3 hours before departure to cover check-in, security, and any customs pre-clearance.

Not sure when to leave? The Leave-By Time calculator uses the modeled ABE wait forecast, real-time traffic, and your gate-walk distance to give you an exact departure time. Also see how early to arrive at the airport for a full breakdown by flight type.

Which ABE security checkpoint is fastest?

ABE operates a single main checkpoint, so all passengers enter the same security lane. TSA PreCheck is the primary tool for faster throughput here — members keep shoes, belts, and laptops packed.

CLEAR is not currently available at ABE. TSA PreCheck at ABE remains the best single upgrade for reducing your security wait.

What are the top ABE airport security tips?

These tips are specific to Allentown (ABE) and verified against current airport configuration:

• ABE has just one security checkpoint in the Main Terminal, so there's no lane-picking decision to make — everyone funnels through the same screening area before the tunnel to the Gate Concourse.
• TSA PreCheck lanes are open at ABE; enroll ahead of time (identogo.com/precheck) since the standard line can bottleneck during peak leisure-carrier departure banks.
• There is no CLEAR biometric lane at ABE — it's a small hub airport, so PreCheck is the only expedited-screening option here.
• The airport itself recommends arriving at least 2 hours before departure; ABE's compact size means the checkpoint rarely backs up for long, but ticket-counter and bag-drop lines for leisure carriers can add time.
• All of ABE's real dining and retail (Drafthouse @ABE, Avenue C Market, Zekraft) is on the other side of security in the Gate Concourse, so clear the checkpoint early rather than lingering pre-security at the Lehigh Valley Cafe.

Does ABE have TSA PreCheck?

Yes — ABE has TSA PreCheck lanes at its security checkpoints. PreCheck members keep shoes, belts, light jackets, laptops, and 3-1-1 liquids packed, and pass through a dedicated screening lane. Membership costs $85–$100 for five years and includes a Known Traveler Number (KTN) you add to every booking.

See live PreCheck wait times and current lane status on the ABE TSA PreCheck page. That page also covers which terminals have a PreCheck lane, enrollment locations, and how PreCheck compares to CLEAR and Global Entry at ABE.

ABE does not host a Global Entry enrollment center or Enrollment on Arrival, so the interview has to be completed at another location — but membership still pays off here, since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck for the ABE PreCheck lanes. Details on Global Entry at ABE.

ABE security at a glance

See also: Live ABE TSA wait times · TSA PreCheck at ABE · How early to arrive at the airport