Finally, some good news for weary travelers.
After battling long TSA lines and wait times earlier this year, airline passengers departing from Boston Logan International Airport now have the option to skip the lines and head straight to the gate, thanks to a new “first-in-the-nation” remote check-in pilot program, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
“This is going to be a game-changer for so many people,” Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey told CBS News Boston.
The pilot program, launched June 1, is being run in partnership with the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)—an independent public authority that runs and operates the Commonwealth’s three major airports. It is the first off-airport security checkpoint in North America.
How does remote check-in work?
Instead of going through security at the airport, eligible travelers can print boarding passes, check bags, and clear security at a new, remote terminal in Framingham, Massachusetts, about 23 miles southwest of Logan, before boarding a secure bus.
“[Passengers will] go through a full TSA screening checkpoint lane, very similar to like you would at the airport,” said Peter Howe, Massport’s deputy director of roadway management.
Framingham’s Logan Express airport bus has long been a popular park-and-ride spot for locals looking to avoid heavy airport traffic and hefty airport parking fees. A bus ticket from the remote terminal costs $9 each way (kids younger than 18 ride free with a ticketed family member) and parking costs $7 per day, compared to $37 to $46 per day at Logan.
Currently, only passengers flying on Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. will be able to use this service, though there are plans to expand to additional airlines in the future, according to Massport. Buses from Framingham run about every half hour.
Passengers can book tickets from 90 days to 90 minutes before departure, though they’re encouraged to book early to allow for flexibility as the pilot program gets underway.
TSA said it is working on “rolling out more potential remote passenger screening options nationwide.”