As far as airports go, it could be a whole lot worse than ABIA. The traffic isn't as soul-crushing as it is at LAX; the terminals are not in a constant state of disarray and renovation as they are at JFK. But traveling over the holidays is always an ordeal, and while we're thankful for ABIA's small size and efficiency, there's always room for improvement—which is why we're pretty excited about the latest updates and perks happening at the airport right now.
New restaurants:
Over the summer, it was announced that the airport would be getting a slew of new restaurants. While some are still "coming soon," a couple are open and waiting for you to stop by and kill a few hours before your flight. Second Bar + Kitchen, located between gates 6 and 7, is a smaller iteration of downtown's location, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to hungry travelers. Catching an early flight? The restaurant opens at 4:30am, meaning you can snag Lone Star tacos or a breakfast pizza before getting in line.
The other newest restaurant is I VINI, an Italian spot between gates 21 and 25. Serving as a market, wine bar, restaurant and cafe all in one, the eatery offers pastries, pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salads throughout the day—plus, plenty of vino options in case you're a nervous flyer. I VINI opens at 5am.
Be advised that the East Food Court is closed for renovations.
Free meals for military:
Throughout the holidays, a selection of restaurants are offering a free meal to all military personnel. From November 20-26, get a free entrée and a fountain drink at Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar, Schlotzsky’s Deli, Maudie’s TexMex, The Salt Lick BBQ and Saxon Pub. From November 23-25, active and retired military can get one non-alcoholic drink and a menu item at ThunderCloud Subs, Second Bar + Kitchen and Ruta Maya. All you have to do is show your military ID.
Beauty stop:
Have a couple hours before you board? Knot Anymore just added manicures and a table massage to their services menu. Located near gates 7 and 13, it's a great option for relaxing before the travel stress kicks in.