Flying with pens

[dow]

I'm not sure where this should go, so the moderators can put it wherever they think best.

Has anybody flown with a bunch of pens? I have to go to our corporate office next week, and will be flying on American. I'm concerned that the scanner guys may have a problem with my pens because of the metal tubes.

thoughts?

Thanks,
Dow

 

[nava1uni]

I have flown with my pens in a case. I do take out the ink cartridges from my personal fountain pens so it doesn't leak from the pressure.

 

[dow]

Well, that sounds good. I use the pen rolls, and was planning on taking one of them with me to show around at corporate.

Has anyone had a problem with carrying them on?

 

[Pioneerpens]

Pens will be no problem, just don't take any bullet cartridge pens...any replica or real ammo or weapons can't go through the checkpoint...all will be fine in your checked luggage.

 

[ed4copies]

It depends!

Which security officer you get and how you approach it and how many pens you are carrying.

I have travelled to the Washington DC pen show twice with several hundred pens in my carry-on and, yes, there have been a handful of casing pens. The Xray shows lots of pens, of course. The security guy asks, I answer---Pen show in DC, I'm an exhibitor. "Can you write with one?" I reply--you pick it, I'll write with it.

Once I actually wrote with one, the other time, he just said, "Good luck at the show!!"

Moral: carry enough pens that it is obvious you make pens. And don't get too clever with the security guys--you know you are "out of the ordinary", so don't tick him off!!!

IF he asks why you are carrying them on, instead of checking them, I have answered, "No insurance in the world would give me the value of these, on a claim--its several thousand dollars worth of pens--I like having them where I can watch them". That reply will "Fly", (pun intended)!!

 

[Crashmph]

I am with Ed on this one. I just flew home from DC for a family reunion in Texas. I have an antique briefcase my dad used to carry that I have modified to hold about 200 pens. I had the case nearly full and got a lot of odd looks from the scanner people. When asked do the write, like Ed I said pick one. Lucky me they picked a fountain pen with no ink in it. A little explaining got me through it. I also had several Bullet pens in my case as well (308, 44 mag, 50 cal, etc). Just have at least a few dozen to cover your reasoning that you are a "pen turner".

This would also help out if we had membership cards for IAP.

 

[titan2]

I am with Ed on this one. I just flew home from DC for a family reunion in Texas. I have an antique briefcase my dad used to carry that I have modified to hold about 200 pens. I had the case nearly full and got a lot of odd looks from the scanner people. When asked do the write, like Ed I said pick one. Lucky me they picked a fountain pen with no ink in it. A little explaining got me through it. I also had several Bullet pens in my case as well (308, 44 mag, 50 cal, etc). Just have at least a few dozen to cover your reasoning that you are a "pen turner".

This would also help out if we had membership cards for IAP.

Even a supply of your own business cards would help.....


Barney

 

[Pioneerpens]

it will help with a large amount of pens, but again...it is written that NO replica ammuntion or weapons may go...It is ultimately up to the Security officer operating the x-ray machine...But if he/she is doing their job correctly they will not let it go...and they shouldn't....so if you lose a cartridge pen that way...knowing that it is a prohibited item..well, there ya go

 

[dow]

Thanks for all of the advice. I was only planning on taking one roll of pens (18), and I don't make cartridge pens. I'll be sure to have some cards handy as well.

 

[KenBrasier]

I've flown with numerous pens in my carry-on, but typically put Bullet/Cartriage pens in my checked luggage. Once on returning I forgot I had a couple of 30.06 Bullet Pens in my sportcoat, but once I showed they were pens and the wrote, I had no problem.

I believe it is pretty much up to the TSA people as to how difficult they will be. A good attitude always seemed to help me.

 

[stolicky]

I have flown with one of the 24 pen folios with no problems. I actually sold two pens to a TSA guy once!

 

[tim self]

Has anybody flown with a bunch of pens? I'm concerned that the scanner guys may have a problem with my pens because of the metal tubes.

thoughts?

Thanks,
Dow

I don't know, has anyone heard from Ron?!

 

[Smitty37]

it will help with a large amount of pens, but again...it is written that NO replica ammuntion or weapons may go...It is ultimately up to the Security officer operating the x-ray machine...But if he/she is doing their job correctly they will not let it go...and they shouldn't....so if you lose a cartridge pen that way...knowing that it is a prohibited item..well, there ya go

Most of the casing pens I've seen would not be mistaken for replica ammunition. I think in general they're modified enough that they no longer look real but I'd still leave them home..

My approach would be to put the pens in a carrying case, there are no prohibition against carrying pens on an air line flights.

 

[monophoto]

Done it many times. Worst case is that the inspectors will see curious shadows on their x-ray machine and will want to take a closer look. Then they stare at you and smirk.

 

[beck3906]

I'm fly frequently on American Airlines and often fly with pens or kits and tubes to work on when I am at my hotel. I'm often hand checked and then passed through. I also carry my pens and expensive kits in my carry-on. It's a lot of fun when I carry about 50 kits and glued tubes. Be prepared to wait while they swab and check the tests. Sometimes I wonder what TSA thinks the bags are for when they begin their search.

My only problem was I once forgot and threw a round file into my carry-on once. It was longer than the allowable length and I had to leave it at the checkpoint. I was offered an opportunity to take it back to my car but it wasn't worth the time for a $5.00 file that was worn anyway.

 

[EBorraga]

I don't know, has anyone heard from Ron?!

Heck, Ron made it no problems.