- TSA and Massport launched the first off-site airport screening program in the United States at Framingham.
- Eligible Delta and JetBlue passengers can check bags and clear security twenty miles from Boston Logan.
- A secure bus transports screened travelers directly to airport gate areas, bypassing terminal security lines.
(FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS) — Travelers flying out of Boston Logan International Airport can now clear security 20 miles before they get there.
On June 1, 2026, TSA and Massport launched the first off-site airport screening program in the United States at the Logan Express station in Framingham.
The pilot, branded “Straight to Gate,” lets eligible passengers check in, drop bags, and clear TSA at the suburban bus terminal. They then board a secure bus directly to Logan’s gate areas.
The concept mirrors services at Hong Kong International and Stockholm Arlanda, where in-town check-in has operated for years. Hong Kong’s Airport Express train lets passengers check bags at stations in central Hong Kong or Kowloon.
Stockholm offers a similar service at its central rail station. No US airport has attempted remote screening on this scale before.
Only Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways passengers can use the service during the pilot phase. Flights must depart between 5:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET to qualify.
That window covers the bulk of daily departures from both carriers at Logan, where Delta operates from Terminal A and JetBlue from Terminal C.
Travelers on international itineraries should confirm with their airline whether their specific flight is eligible. TSA has not detailed how the program handles passport-controlled departures.
The secure bus delivers passengers directly to the gate area, bypassing the terminal entirely. How international departure protocols, including passport verification, apply at the remote site remains unclear.
Passengers using the Straight to Gate service need the same documents required at any airport checkpoint. A valid government-issued photo ID matching the boarding pass is mandatory.
International travelers must carry passports. TSA has not indicated whether the remote checkpoint can accommodate visa verification or additional screening that sometimes applies to certain passport holders.
The process works in four steps. Arrive at the Framingham station, roughly 20 miles west of Boston.
Check in with Delta or JetBlue, drop bags at a remote counter, and walk through a TSA checkpoint staffed on-site. Once cleared, board a secure bus to the gate area with no additional screening required at Logan.
Wait times at Logan’s Terminals A and C routinely exceed 45 minutes during peak summer travel. Eliminating that queue means travelers can reach their gate with less buffer built into their schedule.
The trade-off is the bus transfer from Framingham, which adds transit time but replaces the airport security wait.
| Step | What Happens | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airline check-in and bag drop | Framingham station |
| 2 | TSA security screening | Framingham station |
| 3 | Secure bus to Logan gate area | En route |
| 4 | No additional screening at airport | Boston Logan |
The pilot stands to benefit suburban travelers who already use Logan Express for parking and transit. Instead of riding the bus to the terminal, then lining up for security, they handle both steps at the point of departure.
TSA has not quantified how quickly the remote checkpoint processes passengers compared to Logan’s main terminals.
Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue members see no change in mileage earning from the pilot. Miles accrue based on ticket type and fare class, not where screening happens.
Elite members on both airlines keep priority boarding, complimentary checked bags, and lounge access regardless of whether they use the Framingham checkpoint.
The Framingham Logan Express bus already serves as a transit link between Boston’s western suburbs and the airport. Parking at the station runs $10 for 24 hours, with bus fare at $7.50 each way.
Standard service drops passengers at Logan terminals. Under the pilot, screened passengers ride a separate secure bus that bypasses terminals and goes straight to the gate.
Massport has not confirmed whether the screening pilot adds cost to the standard bus fare. The agency has not announced an end date for the pilot.
Expansion to other Logan Express locations in Back Bay, Braintree, Woburn, or Peabody remains unconfirmed. No other US airport has announced a similar off-site screening program.
If you are flying Delta or JetBlue from Logan this summer, arrive at the Framingham station at least two hours before departure. That allows time for remote check-in, screening, and the bus transfer.
Evening departures after 4:00 p.m. ET still require standard check-in at Logan itself, since the pilot’s eligibility window closes in the late afternoon.
