Travel: Flights to Boston from Edinburgh (edi)

• Logan International Airport (IATA: BOS), Toll free: +1 800-23-LOGAN (56426), radio: AM 1650, .

Boston Logan International Airport is the main gateway to Boston and New England. It is located in East Boston a few kilometers from downtown. All major U.S. carriers serve Boston Logan with extensive flights to major cities across the country. Major as well as smaller European carriers also fly to Boston from their hubs including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic (London), Air France (Paris), Alitalia (Milan, Rome), Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Munich), Aer Lingus (Dublin, Shannon), Swiss (Zurich), Icelandair (Reykjavik) and NWA/KLM (Amsterdam). In 2006, Iberia will begin flying to Boston from their Madrid hub. Getting to Boston from Asia will require at least a one stop connection.

From all terminals, free Massport shuttle buses provide connectivity to subway, water transit, and parking.

The MBTA Blue line is convenient and inexpensive provided that you are not carrying much luggage. For the bus to Airport station, look for the blue and white Massport shuttle bus with the electronic sign that says "SUBWAY" or "ROUTE 22". Subway fare is $1.70, or 2.00 w/o Charliecard, and exact change is not needed. The last Blue Line train leaves Airport station shortly after about 12:30 AM.

The Airport station has was completely rebuilt in 2004. Change at Government Center for Green Line trains and at State Street for Orange Line trains. If you need a Red Line train, you could take a Green Line train from Government Center to Park Street, but the Silver Line (see below) is a better bet.

The Silver Line began service to Logan airport in June 2005. The large, low-floor articulated bus stops at each terminal roughly every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends. From the airport the bus travels through the occasionally-clogged Ted Williams Tunnel, and then through a dedicated bus tunnel to an underground stop at South Station. Convenient transfers are available to the Red Line, westbound/southbound commuter rail trains, and Amtrak trains. The fare is $1.70, or $2.00 w/o Charliecard, exact change only.

Taxis are more expensive than in many other cities. Fortunately, the airport is very near the city so the fare is not extremely expensive. It would be about $25 for fares to Boston, and less if you are staying downtown in the financial district.

Airporter, Phone: +1 781-899-6161, toll free: +1 877-899-6161, reservations@theairporter.com, . Between Logan and the suburbs, door to door.

Driving to Logan from the north, take the Callahan Tunnel; from the south or the west, take the Ted Williams Tunnel. Routes are well marked, and there is no toll in this direction. Driving from the airport to downtown Boston or to points north, including Interstate 93 northbound, take the Sumner Tunnel; for points south and west, including Interstate 93 southbound & Interstate 90, take the Ted Williams Tunnel. There is a $3 toll for either tunnel. Routes are well marked, but the airport road system is complex... read the signs carefully and be sure you're in the correct lane, or you may be forced to swerve across several lanes of traffic to catch an unexpected off-ramp.

Alternative airports

Due to congestion at Logan, two regional airports have been designated as alternatives to Logan Airport. Flying into one of these airports may be an option for travelers visiting points north or south of Boston or those who wish to fly Southwest (which flies into both of these airports, but does not serve Logan). Unless one of those conditions applies, it is recommended that you just fly into Logan, as both airports are some distance from Boston and not well served by public transportation.

• Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (IATA: MHT) is located in Manchester, NH, approximately 50 miles north of Boston. A shuttle bus is available from the airport to the Sullivan Square T stop in Charlestown, with a stop at the Anderson Regional Transit Center in Woburn for connections to the commuter rail. The shuttle began in November 2006, and will run for 6 months, after which it will be evaluated to see if it will continue after the 6-month trial period. So check first before booking your flight: if the shuttle is not running, the only ways to get into Boston aside from renting a car are a bus that runs every few hours or a very expensive cab ride. Note that this airport should not be confused with Manchester International Airport in Manchester, England (yes, it has happened ).

• T.F. Green Airport (IATA: PVD) is located in Warwick, RI, approximately 60 miles south of Boston. For the moment, the best way to get into Boston by public transportation is to take a local bus or taxi to the train station downtown, and board a MBTA commuter train to Boston. If you do this, make sure to check the bus and train schedules in advance of your visit, as service can be very limited at times (especially on weekends and late at night). There are plans to build a new commuter rail station at the airport, but this is not expected to be completed until 2009.

General Aviation traffic is mostly served by Hanscom Field (ICAO: KBED) off Route 128/I-95 near Lexington and Burlington.