By Harriet Baskas

Airport essentials Airport Web site Airport map Ground transportation Boston's Logan International Airport (airport code: BOS) began operation as Boston Airport in 1923 as nothing more than a mail stop and a home base for small planes. In 1944 the airfield was dubbed Commonwealth Airport, but in 1952 it was renamed Logan International Airport to honor Gen. Edward Lawrence Logan, who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate, and as a municipal court judge. In addition to major renovations completed during the past few years, BOS added new shops, restaurants and amenities in preparation for the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Post-convention travelers will reap the benefits of these upgrades.

Get oriented Take care of yourself Take care of business Explore the airport Transportation

Get oriented BOS Note Luggage carts are available throughout the terminals, near baggage claim areas, and at the entrances to the central garage. Logan has five passenger terminals (A, B, C, D, and E) laid out in a horseshoe pattern, each serving a variety of airlines. Terminal A has been closed for renovations since 2002. Here are the airlines the other terminals serve: Terminal B: Alaska, American/American Eagle, America West, ATA, Delta Shuttle (LaGuardia), Independence Air, and US Airways/Express/Shuttle (LaGuardia & D.C.). Terminal C: Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz, Continental, Cape Air, Delta/Delta Connection/Atlantic Air/Comair, Midwest, Song, and United/United Express/Atlantic Coast. Terminal D: AirTran. Terminal E: JetBlue, KLM, Lufthansa, Northwest, and most international flights. Shuttle buses run on a continuous loop between terminals and can usually get you from one terminal to another in about 10 minutes. To get your bearings stop at one of the information booths located on the ground level of each terminal. You can also check the Logan terminal map. Take care of yourself Eat: There are plenty of dining options throughout BOS, ranging from full-service restaurants and raw bars to spots where you can grab a snack or meal to take onto your flight. In Terminal B you'll find table-service offered at Bella Boston, an Italian-themed restaurant with an all-you-can eat breakfast buffet. Legal Sea Foods Café, offering a wide variety seafood dishes and a raw bar, is past security in the US Airways Shuttle terminal, by Gate B8. (This popular local chain also has a full-service restaurant and an express branch in terminal C.) BOS Note Best bet for a carry-on meal: Chowder from Legal Sea Foods. Best sinful snack: Chocolates and candies from Coco Moka Café or Massachusetts-made fudge from the Fudge Bar. Pre-security in Terminal B, you'll also find Ozone-BOS, a Todd English creation offering takeout and full-service sit-down dining. Other dining options in Terminal B include the Fox Sports Sky Box Bar and Grill with plasma screen TVs and multiple sports feeds, Au Bon Pain, Burger King, Sbarro's, and Starbucks. Caffe Ritazza, offering Italian-style sandwiches, baked goods, and pastries is in the US Airways Shuttle wing. On the Terminal B American Airlines side, your choices include the full-service Killian's Boston Pub, Pizza Hut, Boston Deli, Dunkin Donuts, Au Bon Pain Express, Boston Café, Pizza Hut, and Burger King. In the ticket lobby (pre-security) of Terminal C you'll find a full-service Legal Sea Foods restaurant and, across the lobby, a food court with an express version of Legal Sea Foods, as well as the Samuel Adams Boston Brewhouse (a full-service restaurant and bar), Au Bon Pain, DaVinci's (pizzas and sandwiches), Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, and Starbucks. Post-security, look for the Fudge Bar, Greenleaf's Grill, Pizza Hut Express, Samuel Adams Pub, Taste of Boston Deli, and other fast-food options. Over in Terminal E, you'll find table service at Dine Boston Bar & Grill. The Dine Boston Café is adjacent, and both outlets offer local and regional specialties such as desserts from Rosie's Bakery of Cambridge. The Coca Moka Café offers gourmet coffee, gelato, and candies. Once past security, you'll find Houlihan's (classic American fare), and a food court with a great view of the airfield and branches of Au Bon Pain, McDonald's, Sbarro, and Wok & Roll. Dunkin' Donuts is located in the arrivals hall and Java Coast has two locations: on the departure level pre-security, and in the arrivals hall. Relax and refresh: You'll find comfortable, calm-inducing rocking chairs scattered about some parts of the airport. For a truly quiet spot, head for the "Our Lady of the Airways" Chapel, which opened in 1952 as the first airport chapel in the country. It's located just off the walkway between Terminals B and C and is open 7 AM–11 PM daily. For a little professional help, stop at Classique Salon, which offers hair and manicure services. It's located pre-security in Terminal C. Across the lobby is a new branch of OraOxygen Spa. Or, watch a movie: In Motion Pictures rents portable DVD players, DVDs, and a full assortment of portable electronics. You can watch the films at the airport or on your flight and return the equipment by dropping it in the mail or an InMotion Pictures drop-off location. They're located in the ticket lobby of Terminal C, by the entrance to Gates C11–21. If you need to nap, work out, or just relax and have a meal, head over to the Hilton Boston Logan Airport, which can be accessed directly via skybridges from the terminals. Ask about day rates if you'd like catch a few hours sleep, or pay just $10 for a day pass to the hotel's health club, pool, whirlpool, and showers. The Hyatt Harborside Conference Center & Hotel is also on airport property. They offer day rates for rooms and make their health club and pool facilities available for guests checking in on a day rate. Smokers can light up in designated curbside smoking areas. Take care of business Airline club members will find club rooms in the following locations: American: Gate B36. Continental: Terminal C (near Gates 40-42). Delta: Concourse C, by Gate 26. Northwest/America West: Terminal E, opposite Gate 3. United: Terminal C, by Gate 19. US Airways: Terminal B, on the upper level past security Wireless Internet access is located throughout the terminals and is accessible for a daily fee. Self-service Internet kiosks are located in Terminals all terminals, post-security. BOS Note A vending machine filled with office supplies is located in the Terminal B ticket lobby, by the US Airways counters. A cluster of cubicles with work desks, telephones, and AC outlets, are located by Gates B18 and B19, in the US Airways Shuttle terminal. A full-service Fleet Bank branch is located in Terminal D and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM. Full-service business centers are located at the Hilton Boston Logan Hotel, which is connected to the airport via moving walkways, and at the Harborside Hyatt Conference Center & Hotel, which is also on airport property and accessible by shuttle. Explore the airport Shop: Street pricing is in effect at Logan, which means prices here should be comparable to prices in downtown Boston. Head first for Terminal C, where you'll find "Boston Landing": specialty stores, restaurants, and kiosks located mostly in the departure hall lobby. Highlights include Brookstone, Borders, Boston Tops (T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats), Silver Nation (jewelry), Dajuli Sparkles (accessories), and A Touch of New England, which sells a wide variety of Boston-related souvenirs. Numerous kiosks offer everything from magic tricks to interactive games. In Terminal B, look for Anthony's Pier 4 Lobsters. They can pack up lobsters and other seafood for you to take along on your flight. On the US Airways side, look for Boston Marketplace (New England souvenirs, gifts, and memorabilia), well-stocked newsstands, and a retail court with souvenirs, jewelry, and other items. Shopping options in the Terminal E Airmall include a surprisingly well-stocked health-and-beauty store called Basics and the gourmet-candy-filled Coca Moka Café. Post-security you'll find a Borders and several Hudson News newsstands. A duty-free store is located by Gate 5. A 24-hour Hudson News is located in the arrivals hall. Sightsee: Artwork at Logan is part of Artport, the airport's public art program. As part of each construction project, new pieces are added, so be sure to stop by a terminal information booth for directions and updates on what's where. Terminal C has two giant mirrored-wall sculptures by James Seawright (at the north and south walls of the terminal) that fragment and reflect the image of each passerby. There's also a ceiling sculpture by Susumu Shingu that moves gently with the air patterns in the terminal, and a pair of 9-foot glass cubes created by George Rhoads that contain Rube Goldberg-type devices that send lacrosse balls careening through an entertaining maze of chutes, jumps, and bridges. One of these cubes is located in the Kidport play area and the other one is parked out in front, closer to the ticket counter. For a historical perspective on the airport, spend a few minutes with two exhibits that trace the history of air travel in New England and the growth of Boston's airport. One exhibit is in the walkway between Terminals B and C, the other is in the new parking garage on the fourth level walkway heading towards Terminal E. In Terminal E, look above the ticket counters for "New England Forever," Norman LaLiberte's 18 large, colorful reliefs. If you've got a bit more time before your flight, take the free shuttle bus (on the lower levels of all terminals) to the water-shuttle dock. Inside the pavilion there's a set of 12 paintings by Mela Lyman which feature scenes of water and swimmers. Outside the pavilion, there's a steel sculpture with wind wheels, vanes, and cups. Walk along the waterfront path and you'll find Carlos Dorrien's 30-ton sculpture, consisting of a granite portal and three granite slabs with carved images centering on East Boston's immigration, trade and maritime history. Look out: You'll be able to get good views of the airfield from the top of the Terminal B garage, the terminals C and E food courts, and the glass walkway between concourses B and C. The Kidport play area in Terminal C not only offers a great view, but has helpful signs along the window ledge that help identify the various personnel and pieces of equipment out on the tarmac. Play around: The Kidport in the departure lobby of Terminal C has a great view of the airfield, as well as fun toys, such as an airplane climbing structure, an infant and toddler play area, and a "What's Outside?" window display. Kids will also enjoy watching balls make their way through the intricate metal sculpture in the lobby area of Terminal C and in the Kidport. Transportation The folks at the concierge-style information booth on the level of Terminal C can help you make dinner, theater, concert, or hotel reservations before you leave the airport. A cab ride to downtown Boston will take anywhere from 20 minutes to more than an hour, depending on the traffic and time of day. All areas within a 12-mile radius of downtown Boston are charged a metered rate. Beyond the 12-mile radius the charge is a flat rate. Some surcharges apply. Shared vans also make the trip from the airport to Boston-area hotels. If you're headed downtown to Boston's financial district, the aquarium, Quincy Market or Faneuil Hall Marketplace, by all means think about traveling by water. Take Shuttle Bus No. 66 (the one that says "Water") from outside the baggage claim areas to the Logan dock. You'll find year-round scheduled and on-call vessels that travel from the dock to downtown Boston and other popular waterfront destinations in Boston Harbor. Services include the MBTA Harbor Express and two water-taxi companies. The "T" subway system (operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) is truly a bargain. Free shuttle buses take you from the airport to the Blue Line station, where trains to downtown Boston and other points leave on a regular basis. Public buses serve Logan as well.

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