Getting through airport security might soon happen miles away from the actual terminal. The Transportation Security Administration has launched a new pilot program that lets certain passengers clear security at a remote facility and head straight to their boarding gates upon arriving at the airport.
The “first-in-the-nation” remote screening option officially began on June 1 for travelers departing from Boston Logan International Airport. Instead of waiting in standard airport TSA lines, passengers can complete their entire security screening at a remote site located in nearby Framingham, Massachusetts, which is roughly a 30-minute drive from the airport.
This experimental program comes in the wake of severe airport delays earlier this year, where a partial government shutdown left passengers across the country facing TSA wait times that occasionally topped three hours.
Currently, the remote terminal service is limited to passengers flying on JetBlue or Delta Air Lines with departures scheduled between 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Travelers using the service can park at the Framingham location, check in for their flight, go through standard security screening, and then board a dedicated bus that drops them off directly inside the secure area of their airport terminal. Checked luggage is also handled at the remote facility, where it is screened, transported to Boston Logan, and loaded onto the aircraft.
“This pilot program is all about creating options for our travelers,” TSA Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said in a statement.
To use the system, travelers need to purchase a $9 ticket online through massport.com. Children under the age of 18 can ride the secure bus for free if they are accompanied by a ticketed adult. Daily parking at the Framingham facility is priced at $7.
Boston is not the only city testing these types of setups. The TSA indicated that similar remote screening options could eventually expand nationwide, noting that three sites are already operating at Los Angeles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport.
For travelers who cannot use remote screening, the TSA recently shared guidance on how to accelerate the standard airport security process. The agency specifically emphasized on social media that passengers should empty their pockets of phones, keys, and wallets before stepping into the line. They also advised keeping identification documents in an easily accessible spot, like an outer bag pocket, and organizing carry-on luggage ahead of time so items like laptops or compliant liquids can be removed quickly if required.
“You made it to the airport, now help yourself (and everyone behind you) get through the checkpoint faster,” the agency stated.
READ: Trump: US Troops Staying In Middle East Until Iran ‘Completion’
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
