Originally Posted by Global_Hi_Flyer
KF,
I have successfully and without question gotten a very nice fountain pen through security in several airports. It is has an all metal body, and unless you open the cap you can't tell it's a fountain pen.
So, I'd say you're not likely to have a problem with the pen itself.
As for the ink cartridges, I took a whole 50 mL bottle of ink in my baggie on the way back from DC a week ago. I bought it there because the liquid ban was in place when I went up. The screener looked hard at the bottle (for size, I think, because the amount was not indicated in ounces, just mL), and let it go.
Having said that, if some screener got a wild hair somewhere, the TSA site only talks about toiletries. So a poorly trained or a hardline screener might say something.
I don't think you're likely to have a problem, but I would probably reduce risk by taking the cartridges out of the package and bring them in the ziplock.
Thanks, Global_Hi_Flyer! I fly out of LAX and IND a lot and I often encounter the 'poorly trained, hardline screeners,' and so I was quite concerned. It is my favorite pen, and I had heard about people losing certain types of pens before.
I guess that we will see how this goes.
It would be a sad day if the TSA started regularly confiscating the one thing that is mightier than the sword.
Edited to add: As I stepped outside after my post, I got a funny scenario in my head.
TSA: "You are going to have to surrender that pen."
Me: "It is a sad day when you are confiscating the one thing mighter than the sword."
TSA: "She said sword! Get her!" *officers tackle me*