Logan Express
 

Experiences? Seems to go right by my hotel (and free in one direction). Reliable? Timely? Subject to getting stuck in traffic? Best to purchase ticket for the other way online in advance? I've not been to BOS in years and have either taken the T or a taxi (and not a particular fan of Boston taxis, considering one ran a red light while I was a passenger, we were broadsided, and it was my one and only ambulance ride to the ER at Mass General, where I spent a night).

Which Logan Express location are you referring to?

Back Bay

I lived about a mile away from that location for over a decade but never took Logan Express from Back Bay; I got to the airport by taking taxis and then rideshares when that became a thing. But if it helps, I did take Logan Express from Framingham (30 miles west of Boston) quite a few times and they kept extra busses and drivers on hand so they would always leave on time, but I-90 traffic through Boston would delay the journey to BOS by 30-45 minutes during rush hour. I would guess the busses from Back Bay wouldn't hit most of that traffic because they don't get on I-90 until after the I-93 junction, but could still get delayed by 15 minutes during the worst traffic.

As for tickets, if you want to use a debit/credit card, you should purchase on-line in advance. IIRC (and it's been a number of years, so this may have changed), if you buy a ticket from the driver on the bus, it's cash only.

I think you might be conflating Logan Express, the suburban bus service that runs out to lots around 128, and the Back Bay Express that runs free in one direction to Copley Square. I believe it's $3-5 on the return. Haven't taken it but seems to run frequently; I see them on Boylston street regularly. Buses are clean and new. Of course, it's subject to the same traffic peculiarities as any other vehicle.

For what it's worth, I took the silver line yesterday to south station, which is also free. You can move to a train or subway from there. It is one stop to back bay on the commuter rail on many trains out of South station and you won't need a ticket for the three minute ride (just make sure you don't get on a train that goes to Middleboro or Plymouth).

Uber/Lyft I find annoying at Logan because you have to schlep to central parking for pickup. Also, anecdotally late night arrivals typically come with sparse options and surge prices. I don't mind taxis these days; they seem to have gotten cleaner and competitively priced with ride shares.

For context, I live in the city and used Logan about 35 times last year.

https://www.massport.com/logan-airpo...press/back-bay

Now I'm confused!

I live a block from the Back Bay Logan Express pickup (yes, the Back Bay service shares the name as the Logan Express that goes out in the suburbs to Peabody/Framingham/Woburn/Braintree, which is not at all confusing) by the Pru and take it a fair amount — would say going to Logan it's somewhat timely (supposed to leave Back Bay on the half hour, but it typically runs 5 - 10 minutes late), while from Logan it's kind of a crapshoot. The Transit app (https://transitapp.com/region/boston) shows real-time bus locations, which can be helpful for timing / predicting things as well.

In terms of traffic — I avoid the LEX (and the Silver Line, which also isn't great for Back Bay anyway) during peak hours since they both take I-90/the Ted Williams tunnel to Logan and prefer the Green Line -> Blue Line route, but off-peak it's fine (check Google Maps to see how slow I-90 is). Also thanks to the quirks of the Mass Pike when going inbound to Logan you'll first backtrack to the Allston/Brighton exit before turning around, and the same thing coming into the city (so don't be confused when you think the bus is going the "wrong" direction).

You can buy tickets from the website very easily (and it's free from Logan inbound, so no need to buy a round trip) — it takes maybe 2 minutes (typing in your credit card number is the slowest step) and you just show the QR code to the bus operator when you board; I typically purchase mine as I'm walking down Boylston to the pickup point (or while waiting for the bus itself).

Good experience for both trips I had last year (both Back Bay to Logan only).

I am NYC-based. Sometimes take advantage of cheaper fares ex-BOS. Buy $3 tix ahead (as mentioned, tix is only collected to airport; from airport is free).

As far as traffic is concerned, it should be a consideration, but if you leave enough time, should not be an issue. I have made both trips well short of 30 minutes from Back Bay.

Express is fine. Subway is also fine.

I use Logan Express from Peabody sometimes, so some aspects will differ from the Back Bay service.

When I lived closer in (Brookline) as a young person, I just took the T (green line to blue line) when I went to the airport, but back then I was young, healthy, and a light packer. My college student living in a different part of the metro area does this now.

I prefer Logan Express going FROM the suburbs TO the airport. It drops off right at the curb (lower level by baggage claim for Term B) and adds no real stressors or confusion, assuming I took an early enough bus. (I allow lots of extra time these days, because I am now slow.)

Leaving Logan, LEX is too much effort for me, and my kids have managed to miss the hourly bus, thus begging me to pay for a Lyft. :rolleyes:

There are too many busses at the curb (to be obvious to all people), I'm generally more tired and grumpy after a flight, and therefore I pay (a lot!) more to pre-arrange a car service pick up to reduce my own stress.

I don't suggest Logan Express to incoming family (if airport/transit novices), either, because they might get on the wrong bus. I feel totally comfortable putting the same relations on the bus TOWARDS the airport; they aren't so ditzy they will miss an airport completely. :D

One thing I like very much about Logan Express ticket purchase policies is that, if I buy a ticket online but don't use it, it isn't time/date stamped. I tend to have one on my phone and sometimes take the lazy choice and a Lyft to the airport, but don't lose my few dollars. I can also give that same ticket (email or print out) to one of my kids. That's a good, fair policy.

Overall a good experience, both ways. Service is apparently about every half hour, but not on the :00 and :30. I had to wait maybe 15 or 20 minutes at arrivals, and the ride was maybe 30-ish minutes due to the convoluted route because, well, Boston. Return I waited maybe 10 minutes out in the freezing wind and was at my terminal in under 20 minutes. $3 for a convenient RT to and from the Sheraton? Wow.

Yeah, I know the route going to the airport goes in the opposite direction on the highway first and then double back.

I usually wait inside the terminal arrival level near the bus stop when it's cold outside. Massport has a tracker which is pretty accurate. At Back Bay, I would wait at the Boylston entrance, as it is just outside of once of the entrances/exit of Prudential Center, where you can shield from weather elements.

Used in Oct 2022. It was great since free from airport and $3 pre-purchased on my phone or the return trip. I think on return trip people were told to buy on their phone if hadn't already.
Arrived mid-morning on a weekday and left evening on a Sunday. Short walk to/from hotel on Exeter. Highly recommend if looking to save some funds.

For a mid-June 4:30pm United arrival I need to take the Logan Express to Framingham.

1. How easy is it to spot the right bus?
2. The website doesn't say anything (that I can find) about a trip ex-Logan being free.
3. Does the bus have an app that accurately shows where the bus is?

Any tips welcome!!

Relatively easy, as the Logan Express busses are color coded. The one to Framingham is red.

That's the Back Bay branch only.

Not that I know of, but others are welcome to prove me wrong!