Boston’s Bold Experiment: TSA Screening Before You Even Reach Logan
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Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is set to test a very different way to clear security: doing it before you get to the airport. If the pilot works, it could turn the Logan Express bus into the city’s fastest “lane” to the gate—and ease the terminal crush at the same time.
How the pilot would work
Beginning as early as June (pending final TSA approval), Massport plans a trial at the Logan Express Framingham station. Travelers who reserve a spot will arrive at a temporary TSA checkpoint—set up in an overflow lot by the bus bays—show ID, and clear screening on-site. Checked bags can be accepted and tagged there, too, maintaining chain of custody just as if you’d handed them over at the terminal.
Once screened, you’ll board a dedicated Logan Express coach. Instead of dropping you curbside, the bus will enter secure areas at Terminal A and Terminal C, where you’ll step off airside and head straight to your gate. If you’re departing from Terminal B or E, you’ll walk through the airside connectors from C. The pilot is designed for the morning rush: one presecurity bus each hour over a four- to five-hour window, with advance reservations and capacity for roughly 35 precleared passengers per departure.
What makes this different
It’s tempting to compare the concept to American Airlines’ Landline buses (for example, Atlantic City–PHL), where the bus segment is sold on the same ticket as your flight and you clear security before boarding the coach. Boston’s idea is similar in spirit but separate from your airline ticket. Think of it as “TSA on the curb” run by Massport rather than a codeshare bus-as-flight. You get the benefits—skipping terminal queues and curbside chaos—without tying your itinerary to a specific bus operator.
Why BOS is trying it
Two goals drive the experiment. First, reliability: pulling security screening out of the terminal should smooth the morning peaks and remove a major variable for travelers who plan well but still confront unpredictable lines. Second, congestion: convincing more people to take Logan Express reduces private-car and rideshare traffic, which chokes the airport’s roadways at busy times.
Practicalities to know
Because this is a pilot, it will start small. Framingham is the only line included at launch, mornings only, and seats are limited on each run. Your airline’s checked-bag rules still apply—size, weight, and cutoff times—and some edge cases (oversize items, special handling, certain interline scenarios) could still require terminal assistance. Security rules remain the same: standard ID checks, liquids and electronics procedures, and the possibility of secondary screening. And while the bus drops inside A and C, you may still have a decent walk if your gate is in B or E.
If the trial performs, Massport has signaled it could expand the model to the other Logan Express lines—Braintree, Woburn, and the Seaport—and potentially add more departures beyond the morning window.
Who stands to benefit
This is tailor-made for west-of-Boston travelers who already use Framingham, early-morning flyers seeking predictability, and families or infrequent travelers who prefer fewer handoffs and clearer wayfinding. Frequent flyers who care most about time certainty could also find it compelling—especially on peak days when PreCheck and CLEAR lines stretch.
The Bottom Line
If TSA gives the green light, Boston’s “presecurity bus” could become one of the city’s best airport hacks: arrive at the coach, clear security on the spot, step off airside, and skip the terminal scrum. At launch, space will be scarce and punctuality will matter. But if the pilot hits its marks, it could reshape how a lot of Bostonians start their trips—and how other airports think about getting passengers to the gate faster with less stress.
