New England - Boston Airport ground transportation

Any suggestions as to the best way of getting from Boston Airport into Boston, around the Copley Square area, at 10pm on a Saturday evening? I'd prefer shuttle service as a trade off between cost and efficiency, but not sure if there's an efficient subway link from the airport, or what a shuttle service or taxi would cost?

Airport shuttle bus (free) to Airport "T" station and from there you can get anywhere in Boston.

Would say blue line to Govnt Centre then the green line
http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/

Agreed. T is your best bet aside from a cab which will be 100x the cost and not that much faster. Another option is the Silver line to the Red line to the Green line.

If I were going to Copley, I'd take whichever bus comes first - the shuttle to the Blue line or the Silver line bus to South Station (Red line). Both about the same trip. Approx 30 mins, significantly less if you catch the bus/trains just right.

Yes, that is the way to go. The free shuttle bus to the Blue Line is the Route 22 bus, then change to the Green line at Government Center, then just a few stops to Copley. Very easy

If I were going to Copley, I'd take whichever bus comes first - the shuttle to the Blue line or the Silver line bus to South Station (Red line). Both about the same trip. Approx 30 mins, significantly less if you catch the bus/trains just right.

Ditto. Either option is really three lines of travel, Massport Shuttle Bus -> Blue Line -> Green Line, or Silver Line -> Red Line -> Green Line.

The free shuttle bus to the Blue Line is the Route 22 bus....The Route 22 bus is only one of three buses that serve the MBTA Airport Station. At most times, the Route 22 bus serves Terminals A and B and the MBTA station, while the Route 33 bus serves Terminals C and E and the MBTA Station. At off hours, the routes are combined into a single bus, the Route 55 bus. In any event, those buses that serve the MBTA station are clearly marked.

I agree with those who recommend hopping on whichever bus comes first: the Silver Line bus to South Station (changing to the Red Line to the Green Line), or the MassPort bus (route 22, 33 or 55) to the Airport Station (changing to the Blue Line to the Green Line).

Note that if the OP elects to take a taxi instead, the all-in cost, including tip and the ridiculous MassPort add-on fees, is about $30 (about twice as much as it should be, given the distance involved).

Agreed. T is your best bet aside from a cab which will be 100x the cost and not that much faster. Another option is the Silver line to the Red line to the Green line.I know you were just trying to be hyperbolic, but for the sake of accuracy, the OP should know that a taxi will be about 15x the cost of public transportation, and will take 15-20 minutes, compared to 30-40 minutes for public transportation (perhaps a little bit longer given the hour the OP is arriving).

I pretty much fine taking the T to Logan, but I often take the 5:35am DL flight to DTW. Is there any option besides a cab to get to the airport from Back Bay?
The 25-30 USD for the cab are mostly acceptable but a bit annoying when I have to take the 5:35am flight a lot without any luggage.

Sometimes I find myself considering sleeping from 1am to 5am in terminal A..
Biking also seems difficult without a huge detour north.

I know you were just trying to be hyperbolic, but for the sake of accuracy, the OP should know that a taxi will be about 15x the cost of public transportation, and will take 15-20 minutes, compared to 30-40 minutes for public transportation (perhaps a little bit longer given the hour the OP is arriving).

:) Yeah, a cab is not $200. That only happens in Japan when I royally screw up trying to be tricky (okay, even then, hyperbole - it was only $150 ;)).

I pretty much fine taking the T to Logan, but I often take the 5:35am DL flight to DTW. Is there any option besides a cab to get to the airport from Back Bay?

Unfortunately, no arm of the T begins service until 5am or later, so there's no way to make it without a cab.