Boston Logan Airport sits on the edge of the harbor, close enough to downtown that you can see the city skyline from the terminal windows — and just far enough across the water that getting it wrong costs you time. More than 43 million passengers passed through here in 2024, and plenty of them were first-timers staring at a departure board, wondering which of four terminals their flight actually leaves from. This Boston Logan Airport guide answers that question first, then walks through the rest: the free bus into town, the subway stop, the terminals, security, food, lounges, and the small tricks that make a Boston departure or arrival run smoothly.
✈️ Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — At a Glance
| Airport | Boston Logan International Airport |
| IATA Code | BOS |
| City / Country | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Terminals | 4 terminals (A, B, C, E) |
| Timezone | Eastern Time (America/New_York) |
| Official Website | massport.com |
| Map | 📍 Map — Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) |
Getting to Boston Logan Airport
Logan sits in East Boston, about three miles east of downtown across Boston Harbor. That short distance is a gift when traffic is light and a trap when it isn't. The Ted Williams Tunnel and the Sumner Tunnel carry most airport traffic, and both can clog up during the morning and evening rush. If you're driving in from the suburbs, give yourself more time than the map suggests — Boston traffic has a way of adding twenty minutes when you can least afford it.
The best deal at the airport costs nothing at all. The MBTA Silver Line SL1 bus is free from every terminal to South Station in downtown Boston, and the ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Buses run around the clock, and they use dedicated tunnel lanes for much of the trip, which helps when the roads are jammed. Heading back to the airport, the Silver Line costs the standard subway fare of $2.40 — still one of the cheapest airport trips in the country.
The Blue Line is the other transit option, and it suits a different part of the city. Free Massport shuttle buses run from every terminal to the Airport station on the Blue Line, a ride of just a few minutes. From there, the Blue Line takes you to Government Center, State, and Aquarium stations downtown, and on toward Cambridge with a change. The fare is $2.40. If your hotel is near the waterfront or in the North End, the Blue Line often drops you closer than the Silver Line does.
Don't want to think about transit at all? Logan Express buses run from suburban park-and-ride lots in Braintree, Framingham, Peabody, and Woburn, straight to the terminals. They're a solid choice if you're coming from outside the city with luggage, because you park once and ride the rest of the way. Taxis queue outside each terminal, and rideshare pickups are handled through Central Parking — follow the signs for rideshare when you land, and expect a short walk to the garage. The airport also runs a free on-airport shuttle between the terminals, the parking areas, and the Blue Line station, so you never have to drag a bag along the roadway.
Boston Logan Airport Terminals: A, B, C and E
Logan has four passenger terminals — A, B, C, and E — and there's no Terminal D. That trips people up, so remember it: the letters skip from C to E. Each terminal has its own check-in counters and security checkpoints, and the terminals are arranged in a loop around Central Parking. A free shuttle circles the loop, and covered walkways link the terminals to the garage, so getting between them before security is easy. After security, it's a different story: Terminals B, C, and E connect to each other behind security, but Terminal A does not. If your connection starts or ends in Terminal A, you'll leave the secure area and clear security again. Build that into your connection time.
Terminal A is Delta's home at Logan, and it's the airport's newest-feeling terminal, all glass and light. Delta runs its domestic flights from here, and the terminal has two Delta Sky Club locations. The main terminal and its satellite concourse are linked by an underground walkway with moving sidewalks — a short, easy walk, though it feels longer when you're hauling a heavy bag. Alaska Airlines also uses Terminal A for some flights, so check your boarding pass rather than guessing from the airline name alone.
Terminal B is the workhorse. American Airlines and United Airlines are the big names here, and the terminal also handles Alaska, Southwest, and several other carriers. It's split into two piers that don't connect behind security, so your gate number matters more than the terminal letter: the walk from one end of Terminal B to the other can take a while, and there's no shortcut once you're past the checkpoint. Give yourself a few extra minutes here, especially if your gate is at the far end of a pier.
Terminal C belongs mostly to JetBlue, the largest carrier at Logan by number of flights, and it's the busiest terminal in the building for much of the day. Cape Air and Air Canada also operate from Terminal C. JetBlue's network from Boston is huge — short hops down the East Coast, long flights to the West Coast and the Caribbean — so Terminal C hums from the first departures of the morning until late at night.
Terminal E is the international terminal, and it handles most long-haul flights to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia — British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and many more — plus international arrivals for U.S. carriers, including Delta and JetBlue. All international arrivals clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Terminal E, so if you're landing from abroad, this is where your trip through Logan begins.
Security and Check-in at Boston Logan Airport
Each terminal runs its own security checkpoint, so the line you face depends on where your flight leaves from. Terminal C tends to be the busiest in the early morning, when JetBlue's first bank of departures goes out, and Terminal E backs up in the late afternoon and evening ahead of the transatlantic departures. The standard advice still holds: arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. That sounds generous until you add up check-in, a security line, and a walk to a far gate — and Logan's terminals are big enough that the walk alone can take ten minutes.
TSA PreCheck and CLEAR both operate at Logan, and either one can cut a busy-morning wait down to a few minutes. If you fly through Boston more than a couple of times a year, PreCheck pays for itself in saved mornings. Check in online the day before, and keep your boarding pass on your phone — the counters at Logan are busy at peak times, and skipping them is the easiest time-saver in the whole airport.
Food and Drink at Boston Logan Airport
Boston's food scene shows up at Logan in a way that a lot of airports never manage. Legal Sea Foods — the Boston institution — has locations across the terminals, and a cup of clam chowder before a flight out of Logan is one of those small pleasures that makes the airport feel like the city. You'll also find Dunkin', which started in Massachusetts and still feels like home turf here, alongside national chains, sit-down restaurants, and quick counters for a sandwich or a salad.
Terminal E has the strongest food lineup for a long wait, with sit-down spots that work for a proper meal before an overnight flight to Europe. Terminal C is built for speed — grab-and-go counters, coffee shops, and a lot of places to eat while standing near your gate. Terminal A and Terminal B both have solid options too, though the spread thins out at the far ends of the piers. If your flight leaves before 6 a.m., eat near the center of your terminal right after security — the early-morning options get sparse the farther you walk.
Lounges at Boston Logan Airport
Logan's lounge scene is better than most U.S. airports of its size. Terminal A has two Delta Sky Clubs, and Terminal E has a Delta One Lounge for premium long-haul passengers. Terminal B is home to the Chase Sapphire Lounge, one of the nicest lounges in the country, plus Admirals Club and United Club locations for American and United flyers. Terminal E also hosts the Air France Lounge and the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, which serve a mix of airlines and paying guests depending on the day.
Layover Tips and Practical Advice for Boston Logan Airport
Got a few hours between flights? The math matters. A connection inside Terminals B, C, and E can be as quick as 30 minutes if your gates are close together. A connection that involves Terminal A needs at least an hour, because you'll exit security and clear it again. International arrivals need more — clearing customs in Terminal E, collecting bags, and re-checking for a connecting flight can take 90 minutes on a busy evening. If your layover is under two hours and involves a terminal change, head straight for your gate and eat later.
- Check your terminal before you leave home. Your boarding pass tells you the truth — A for most Delta domestic flights, B for American and United, C for JetBlue, E for most international flights. Knowing this before you arrive saves a confused ten minutes at the curb.
- Take the free Silver Line downtown. It's free from the airport, it runs around the clock, and it gets you to South Station in about 20 minutes. There's no cheaper way into the city.
- Fill a water bottle after security. Logan's prices are airport prices. An empty bottle costs nothing to carry and saves you a few dollars every trip.
- Allow extra time for Terminal A connections. Terminal A doesn't connect to the other terminals behind security, so any connection through A means re-clearing security. Budget an hour at minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which terminal do I need at Boston Logan Airport?
It depends on your airline. Delta's domestic flights mostly use Terminal A, American and United use Terminal B, JetBlue uses Terminal C, and most international flights use Terminal E. Assignments can shift, though, so always check your boarding pass and the departure boards — they're the final word.
Is the Silver Line from Boston Logan Airport really free?
Yes — the MBTA Silver Line SL1 bus is free from every terminal at Logan to South Station in downtown Boston. The ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Going the other way, from South Station back to the airport, you pay the standard $2.40 subway fare.
How early should I arrive at Boston Logan Airport?
Arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. Logan's checkpoints can back up in the early morning and ahead of the evening transatlantic departures, and the walk to a far gate can take ten minutes on its own.
Can I walk between terminals at Boston Logan Airport?
Before security, yes — covered walkways and a free shuttle link all four terminals around Central Parking. After security, Terminals B, C, and E connect to each other, but Terminal A does not, so a connection through Terminal A means leaving the secure area and clearing security again.
You May Also Like
- New York JFK Airport: Complete Guide — another big East Coast hub, with its own terminal puzzle to solve before you fly.
- How Early Should You Arrive at the Airport? — the timing rules that keep you ahead of the line at Logan and anywhere else.
- 10 Best Airports in the USA (2026) — see how Boston Logan stacks up against America's top airports.
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