Writer Tests TSA's New Remote Terminal in Boston

Boston has a new way to beat airport chaos, but it comes with a major trade-off: time. In the Wall Street Journal, travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson road tests a pilot program that lets Delta and JetBlue passengers clear check-in and TSA security at a small "remote terminal" in Framingham, about 25 miles from Logan Airport, then ride a $9 bus straight into the secure side of the terminals. Parking is cheap, lines are basically nonexistent, and bags are checked through to your final destination. Families and infrequent fliers may love skipping traffic, counters, and security queues, she writes.

Frequent travelers, though, might balk at the schedule. On Gilbertson's trip, she had to show up around 10:15am for a 2:50pm flight because the last bus leaves at 11am; she ended up with nearly three hours to kill at Logan. There are no restaurants or shops at the Framingham facility, just vending machines and bathrooms, though you do get a close-up bus ride past the planes as you head to the airport. TSA and airport officials are floating similar "off-airport" setups at not only other airports but also cruise ports or theme parks if this test works. To see whether the time savings at security are worth the long lead time, read Gilbertson's full review in the Journal.