# Logan Int'l Airport: moving between terminals? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109 "2012-06-05T02:29:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/1 "2012-06-05T02:29:42Z")
In a few weeks my wife and I will be flying out of Logan International airport in Boston. We will arrive on the Silver Line bus-train thingie and then we will each fly out on a different airline, and those two airlines happen to fly out of different terminals at Logan. Will we pass through security and then be permitted to visit any terminal we wish, regardless of what boarding pass we bear? Or will each of us only be allowed to go to the terminal from which our particular flight departs? We’d like to have lunch together in the same terminal before departure, and we’re wondering whether that will be possible under these circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/2 "2012-06-05T02:39:22Z")
Logan is terrible, unfortunately. I fly a lot, and Logan is my home airport. You can not travel between terminals on the secure side. Food options in Logan are not very good, but terminal B does have a Legal Seafoods on the non secure side, which is good. Getting from there to one of the other terminals is not too bad, so that’s what I would recommend. Terminals a a, C, and E have pretty awful food options IMO, although there is a generic burger joint (Sam Adams Grille?) in C that is ok. For my vote, hit Legal in the non secure side of B and go your own directions fro there. you won’t need more than 10 minutes to get to any other terminal. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/3 "2012-06-05T02:42:27Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > In a few weeks my wife and I will be flying out of Logan International airport in Boston. We will arrive on the Silver Line bus-train thingie and then we will each fly out on a different airline, and those two airlines happen to fly out of different terminals at Logan. > > Will we pass through security and then be permitted to visit any terminal we wish, regardless of what boarding pass we bear? Or will each of us only be allowed to go to the terminal from which our particular flight departs? We’d like to have lunch together in the same terminal before departure, and we’re wondering whether that will be possible under these circumstances. As far as I know, each security checkpoint gets you into the gate area for that terminal only.[sup]\*[/sup] You might want to double check, though. I’ve never had need to travel from one set of gates to another; maybe there is a shuttle bus or something. You’re not totally out of luck, though. There are restaurants in the unsecured parts of the terminals. You just have to eat a little earlier so there’s time to get through the checkpoint and catch your flights. How is that you’re both flying out of the same airport, at the same time, but not on the same flight? - I once caught a flight there during remodeling and there was a security checkpoint just for that one gate. Got my snacks and visited the bathroom first, because once through security there was nothing to do but sit and wait. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/4 "2012-06-05T02:50:41Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > How is that you’re both flying out of the same airport, at the same time, but not on the same flight? She’s flying there for business reasons on Delta (the airline we usually choose). I picked up a credit card recently that scored me two free roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines, so I’m using one of those free tickets to meet her there for several days exploring the area after her business activities are done. If I was paying for my flight, I would have picked the same return flight as her. C’est la vie… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/5 "2012-06-05T03:14:07Z")
As others have said, security only gives you access to that particular terminals gates. You won’t be allowed past security if your flight doesn’t leave from that terminal. Delta is Terminal A, Southwest is terminal E, so you’re about as far apart as is possible at Logan. Terminal A is possibly the worst for food, Terminal E isn’t bad, as it’s also the international terminal. If you get there early enough you can grab food in E and then send your wife back to her flight via the shuttle or a walk through the parking garage. But the walk is far if you’re carrying luggage. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/6 "2012-06-05T13:26:08Z")
Note that the buses that take you between the terminals run … rarely. Plan on at least a half hour of transit time to get from one terminal to another. I came home from London last year via Logan and came within a whisker of missing my connecting flight to Philly because of those stupid buses. I stood at the curb in agony for 25 minutes waiting for a bus, and then the driver stepped out and took his smoke break when one finally arrived. And when I say “within a whisker” I mean it: I had to sprint to Security holding what should have been my checked luggage, but was now going to be my carryon, hoping I didn’t pack something stupid in it and hoping for leniency should they find a Swiss Army knife within. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/7 "2012-06-05T15:32:17Z")
Logan, my home airport (sigh), is sucky in many ways. One of those ways is that the terminals are not connected, except D connects with either C or E (can’t recall which) through a super secret hallway. It’s an old fashioned model that I really wish they’d scrape together the money to change. Ditto on **minor7flat5** ’s warning about transit time and pain-in-the-assed-ness of traveling between terminals. My advice to you is don’t bother with trying to do lunch together beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/8 "2012-06-05T21:26:19Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Logan, my home airport (sigh), is sucky in many ways. One of those ways is that the terminals are not connected, except D connects with either C or E (can’t recall which) through a super secret hallway. Uh, I don’t think there is a terminal D. I found [this map](http://www.massport.com/logan-airport/inside-airport/Pages/logan-interactive-maps.html) that might be helpful. E, C, and half of B are all connected, and by using the pedestrian bridges (light blue on the map) to the parking garage you can get to the other half of B and A. Check the maps, see if any place looks good for lunch. I found an unsecured Legal Sea Foods place (a bar, with a limited menu) in Terminal B. > [@](#): > > It’s an old fashioned model that I really wish they’d scrape together the money to change. A victim of its own success, in a way. When airports were first located and built I don’t think anybody dreamed they’d have the traffic they do today. Start with a small terminal. Build another one when you need to, but still plenty of room. Keep doing that for a few decades and you need a map to find your way around. That’s why some airports are such a patchwork of architecture. I think Kennedy Airport even had each airline build its own terminal. If they started from scratch, I’m sure they could use the available space much better and everything would be super easy and convenient. They just can’t afford to shut the whole place down for three years while they knock it all down and start over. ---
**Author:** ![UncleFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/9 "2012-06-05T21:32:58Z")
There used to be a terminal ‘D’ and I believe it may still be there, physically but unannounced, and used for charter flights. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/10 "2012-06-05T23:59:13Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Note that the buses that take you between the terminals run … rarely. Plan on at least a half hour of transit time to get from one terminal to another. > > I came home from London last year via Logan and came within a whisker of missing my connecting flight to Philly because of those stupid buses. I stood at the curb in agony for 25 minutes waiting for a bus, and then the driver stepped out and took his smoke break when one finally arrived. > > And when I say “within a whisker” I mean it: I had to sprint to Security holding what should have been my checked luggage, but was now going to be my carryon, hoping I didn’t pack something stupid in it and hoping for leniency should they find a Swiss Army knife within. Logan truly is sucky, make no mistake. But (and you wouldn’t know this if you did not use it a lot) there really is no reason to take the bus between terminals. Like I said, I think 10 or 15 minutes would be the most you would need to go from one to another on foot. Logan’s footprint is quite compact. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/11 "2012-06-06T00:09:16Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > Logan truly is sucky, make no mistake. But (and you wouldn’t know this if you did not use it a lot) there really is no reason to take the bus between terminals. Like I said, I think 10 or 15 minutes would be the most you would need to go from one to another on foot. Logan’s footprint is quite compact. As a guy who runs many miles a week, I was all about doing that jaunt, but with no prior knowledge I had no idea how many minutes I was going to wait and how far the terminal was and where it was. My exercise habits did help as I sprinted through the terminal, toward the gate, and onto the airplane, lugging my baggage. All the way, I was imagining those old guys who have heart attacks while running in airports. The flight attendant gave me a broad smile as she showed me an empty overhead for my bags. They closed the door a minute after I arrived. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/12 "2012-06-06T00:10:25Z")
I travel a fair amount through Logan and have no idea why people find it suckier than any other airport…I kind of like it, actually, compared to O’Hare or Newark or LaGuardia. Of course, it’s not TL Green, but what is? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/13 "2012-06-06T00:18:40Z")
Give me O’Hare or Midway any day over Logan. Logan has crappy amenities past security, and if I’m stuck there for a while and unprepared/hungry, this matters. (Once, I even left my carryon with my husband and went back through security to find better food, and get a book while I was at it.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/14 "2012-06-06T00:24:52Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Give me O’Hare or Midway any day over Logan. Logan has crappy amenities past security, and if I’m stuck there for a while and unprepared/hungry, this matters. (Once, I even left my carryon with my husband and went back through security to find better food, and get a book while I was at it.) I live in Boston, so I’m never changing planes at Logan. I don’t wind up with a lot of time to kill in the secure areas. It also depends which terminal you’re in. A was rebuilt recently, so is probably the nicest. Not many amenities in C. Been ages since I flew out of B. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/15 "2012-06-06T00:30:02Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I live in Boston, so I’m never changing planes at Logan. I don’t wind up with a lot of time to kill in the secure areas. > > It also depends which terminal you’re in. A was rebuilt recently, so is probably the nicest. Not many amenities in C. Been ages since I flew out of B. My husband and I are sticklers for arriving really freaking early at the airport. Typically 2 hours ahead of departure time, often earlier. It pays off when random stuff like crazy lines at security or taxi breakdown happens. Last time I flew to Boston (from Chicago) - in the last few years, we’ve opted to drive there instead for our vacations - we’ve been in C. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/16 "2012-06-06T00:45:27Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Uh, I don’t think there is a terminal D. You’re right - I forgot that terminal D was subsumed by E or C a couple of years ago. As for any of the other terminals being connected - they’re only connected outside security. Once you pass through security you can’t access the other terminals. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/17 "2012-06-06T02:22:30Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Give me O’Hare or Midway any day over Logan. Logan has crappy amenities past security, and if I’m stuck there for a while and unprepared/hungry, this matters. (Once, I even left my carryon with my husband and went back through security to find better food, and get a book while I was at it.) THat’s weird, because every terminal has both restaurants and a bookstore after security. I know because over the years I’ve made it a habit when traveling for business to arrive early in the gate area and buy myself a book as a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/18 "2012-06-06T03:28:09Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > THat’s weird, because every terminal has both restaurants and a bookstore after security. I know because over the years I’ve made it a habit when traveling for business to arrive early in the gate area and buy myself a book as a treat. I only remember C having one of those newsstands, not a bookstore. For restaurants, they had a sandwich place and IIRC a Burger King, and I just wanted options. But like I said, it’s been maybe 3-4 years. I must say I did really like Manchester’s airport a lot at the time - free WiFi, not crowded, easy to get around, and loved the rental car setup. Occasionally we’d preferentially fly into Manchester instead of Logan (the friend we visit lives maybe 15-20 minutes from Logan outside of rush hour) and drive down, just because it felt so much more pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/19 "2012-06-06T10:41:20Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > I only remember C having one of those newsstands, not a bookstore. For restaurants, they had a sandwich place and IIRC a Burger King, and I just wanted options. But like I said, it’s been maybe 3-4 years. Yes, come to think of it I think you’re right about C not having the full bookstore. > [@](#): > > I must say I did really like Manchester’s airport a lot at the time - free WiFi, not crowded, easy to get around, and loved the rental car setup. Occasionally we’d preferentially fly into Manchester instead of Logan (the friend we visit lives maybe 15-20 minutes from Logan outside of rush hour) and drive down, just because it felt so much more pleasant. I live south of the city and usually go TF Green if I can. Similarly, it’s much lower key, even if there are fewer amenities. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109/20 "2012-06-06T11:01:38Z")
Sadly, Southwest’s prices out of TF Green as of late – I fly to Midway every few months – seem to have increased to the point where it is more cost-effective to fly out of Logan. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logan-intl-airport-moving-between-terminals/624109.md?page=2)