Originally Posted by
GadgetFreak
It is the point up saving you there. The best way to carry a fountain pen on a plane is point up, and nearly full cartridge. It is the air that expands due to the decreased cabin pressure. If the point is up, the air just goes out and the ink stays put. If the point is down, the air is trapped by the ink (since the air goes up of course) and so when it expands if forces ink out. Likewise, the less air in the pen, the less volume change from the change in pressure. The ink doesnt change much if at all since it is a lot denser.
Fine, explanation. Thanks a bunch. I'd still go with a cartridge or converter where some ink has been squeezed out. Perhaps 10-20%?
Or, if you use a converter, just empty the ink back into its bottle. Problem solved or throw the cartridge away. Problem solved at a small expense.