The airport operates 4 terminals - A, B, C and E, which are connected by free airport bus number 11. However, the distance also allows for an easy walking distance of no more than 10 minutes.
The individual terminals are connected by an internal corridor in the public area and Terminals B, C and E are also connected in the transit area.
Which terminal?
All international arrivals arrive at Terminal E, except flights from Ireland and Canada, which are handled as domestic flights (immigration control is already done in Ireland and Canada respectively). Departures vary by airline. Your departure terminal will always be indicated on your ticket.
- Aer Lingus - Terminal C
- Aeromexico - Terminal E
- Air Canada - Terminal B
- Air France - Terminal E
- Alaska - Terminal B
- Allegiant - Terminal E
- American Airlines - Terminal B (international arrivals outside Terminal E)
- Avianca - Terminal E
- Azores Airlines - Terminal E
- BermudAir - Terminal E
- Boutique Air - Terminal B
- British Airways - Terminal E
- Cape Air - Terminal C
- Cathay Pacific - Terminal E
- Condor - Terminal E
- Copa Airlines - Terminal E
- Delta - Terminal A (international departures and arrivals from Terminal E)
- El Al - Terminal E
- Emirates - Terminal E
- Etihad - Terminal E
- Frontier - Terminal E
- Hainan Airlines - Terminal E
- Hawaiian - Terminal E
- Iberia - Terminal E
- Icelandair - Terminal E
- ITA Airways - Terminal E
- Japan Airlines - Terminal E
- JetBlue - Terminal C (international arrivals at Terminal E)
- KLM - Terminal E
- Korean Air - Terminal E
- LATAM - Terminal E
- Level - Terminal E
- Lufthansa - Terminal E
- PLAY - Terminal E
- Porter Airlines - Terminal E
- Qatar Airways - Terminal E
- SAS - Terminal E
- Southwest - Terminal B
- Spirit - Terminal B
- Sun Country Airlines - Terminal E
- Swiss - Terminal E
- TAP - Terminal C (arrivals at Terminal E)
- Turkish Airlines - Terminal E
- United - Terminal B (international arrivals at Terminal E)
- Virgin Atlantic - Terminal E
- Westjet - Terminal A
Airport map
An interactive map of the entire airport and each terminal can be found on the airport's official website: maps.massport.com.
Transfer between flights
How do I transfer between connecting flights?
Due to its location, Boston is a frequent transfer point when travelling from Europe or the Middle East to the whole of the USA or Canada.
Even though Boston Airport has 4 terminals, transfers are relatively quick and well signposted.
What checks do I go through when I change planes?
What are the exact procedures for each type of transfer?
- International -> International: immigration and security check
- International -> domestic: immigration and security check
- Domestic -> international: no check
- National -> national: no check
Do I have to leave the transit zone when transferring between terminals?
If you are arriving in Boston on an international flight, you must always exit the transit area, go through immigration, and move between terminals via the outside area. Check in again and go through security into the transit area.
If you are arriving from another destination within the U.S., you can proceed directly to the connecting departure gate, for both domestic and international connecting flights, as long as you are connecting within Terminals B, C, E.
If you are connecting to/from Terminal A, you must always exit the transit area and take the public section on foot or free buses to the appropriate terminal.
How do I move between terminals?
Transport between terminals is provided by free shuttle buses, only in the public area. Within the transit zone you can only walk between terminals B, C, E.
Airport bus number 11 runs between all terminals from 9:00 to 22:00. The bus runs counterclockwise along the route Terminal A -> B -> C -> E -> A.
In the direction A -> B -> C -> E you can also use all other free airport buses 22, 33, 55, 66 and 88, of which lines 66 and 88 run 24/7.
Detailed information can be found on the airport website: massport.com/on-airport-shuttle.
Do I need to pick up my luggage?
If you are arriving at Boston Airport from abroad, you must always collect your luggage and re-deliver it at the check-in counter.
If you are flying from a destination within the US and you have a layover of no more than 8 hours, your bag will be automatically transferred. It does not matter whether you continue on an international or domestic flight.
Do I need to apply for ESTA?
Every time you transfer from an international flight, you must collect your baggage and exit the transit area.
Therefore, you must have an electronic ESTA to enter the United States (for 21 usd online processing at the official website: esta.cbp.dhs.gov).
How long does the immigration check take?
If you arrive during off-peak hours, you can be in the public section in 20 minutes, but especially during the afternoon rush hour for arrivals from Europe or Asia, the immigration line can be longer than 2 hours.
If you have less than 1.5 hours to transfer, it is advisable to tell the informants that you have a tight transfer before you get in the queue. In this case, you may be sent to the priority queue.
If you do not make your guaranteed connection due to the length of the immigration check, the airline will arrange the next flight free of charge. However, accommodation at the airline's expense will not be provided in these cases.
Do I go through passport control on departure?
No. There is no longer an immigration check on departure from the USA.
I should be connecting at BOS for a 1 hour and 35 minute flight to El Salvador (arriving from VIE Austrian Airlines and then Avianca), but I'm kind of worried about the time to pick up my bag, go through immigration, and then worry again - to make that guaranteed connection. Has anyone done this with such short notice?