Pens At Airports?

[ImolaS3]

HIi all

 

My first ever long haul trip and first (clearly) to America is iminent (next Friday) and I got to wondering about pens available in airports. It's bene 3 or 4 years since I last flew and I didn't really look for pens then as I was pretty happy with what I had, but these days I am hungry for some more exotic pens (tastes change over the years)

 

Are there nice pen shops in international airports? - makes sense that such a luxury item would be sold there

 

Are they generally duty free? cheaper than 'normal' shops?

 

Available in Heathrow, Chicago or Austin airports?

[jniforat]

great question, and much has been written about this subject on fpn, though i can't remember at the moment. a lot of the bigger, international airports have MB stores (i can't remember if O'Hare airport does). i've heard that the pens tend to be a little cheaper, but not some huge discount.

 

looks like i wasn't helpful, sorry. but i'm sure others will chime in

[ailleurs]

If I recall correctly, Chicago O'Hare has a MB boutique, but that's it. Can't remember which terminal it's in, sorry!

 

Bon voyage!

[RyanWakefield]

There is a Mont Blanc boutique at O'Hare at terminal 1 and 3

[blackbug67]

Two years ago I bought two Lamys at a kiosk in Heathrow's international terminal. I don't remember what other brands may have been for sale there.

 

Have a safe trip,

 

Larry

[reprieve]

In Heathrow, there is The Pen Shop. There is a Montblanc boutique in the fifth terminal. Smythson has a couple of outlets in the airport as well; they carry writing-related items such as paper, diaries, etc. You might also try the Harrod's stores, but I do not remember if their airport boutiques have pens.

[RMehta248]

If you are going through T 5 at LHR there is a "Pen Shop" with quite a range available. Prices are virtually high street retail and you have to accept medium nibs only...nonethless a good way to while away a half hour of airport time and quite calming

[kwpalzang]

Yes, I recall a MB boutique at Chicago too, there's also one across the pond, at the Tokyo airport. Although I didn't get to go in any of them, I was too nervous. I didn't even go in the one in Japan, even though that was my favourite airport that I had experience with in my trip. The Chicago one (airport, not the pen place) wasn't so nice... but that's a bit off topic .

[kwpalzang]

Also, I remember at the Korean airport in Seoul, that there were some Fountain Pens. This is only semi-first-hand-experience though... My brother and pretty much the rest of my family went off to buy some stuff before we left, and I didn't feel like going, but while they were gone my brother reported seeing some fountain pens somewhere... Beyond that, I don't know. So here we have it, I know of 3 airports so far that hold fountain pens: Chicago O'Hare, Tokyo Narita, Seoul Incheon.

[82Greg]

Can't say that I've found purchasing ANYTHING in an airport to be the most cost effective way of purchasing an item. On the other hand, browsing can effectively kill a couple of hours during a layover.

Edited July 25, 2010 by 82Greg

[welch]

- No pen shops at Austin airport. Settle for the beer and barbecue.

 

- MB store at Paris DG. Although the people didn't quite know what a fountain pen was all about, they were willing to sell me a ball-point for a lot more than any store would ask.

 

- Others? Trust what the folks say. I'd expect to find real pen stores in metro Chicago and London. I think people have discussed Austin (slim pickins, and I don't mean the old cowboy movie actor); Chicago (several); London (even more). Search ought to return names for Chicago and London.

[ImolaS3]

Thanks all

 

Off tomorrow and looking forward to a browse to while away the few hours in the airports - usually love reading at this time with the ipod on too, but I'll have plenty of that on the flight over

[Chris]

I have bought ink at airports because it is a bit cheaper than the high street prices and I hve found, at the back of the stock, MB Racing Green, so sometimes worth a look. But pens, no but then I'm trying to give them up (or at least, give up buying them).

 

Chris

[piembi]

Well, I do buy MB inks at the airport frequently. Why? The MB airport boutiques carry the colours I am looking for and my local pen shop does not.

[ImolaS3]

Had a great trip and loved Texas and Austin.

 

I saw 3 pen shops in airports and all were MB! Although i love MBs and have 5 so far, I couldn't pay the full price for them, even in the airport (where I couldn't see any real savings compared to my local MB shop).

 

So, no new pens on this trip, although my lovely new Parker Duofold Centennial in chequered blue arrived just before the trip and served as my writer throughout

 

I did manage to pick up a couple of nice watches though - my wife tells em that my weaknesses are watches, foutian pens and japanese swords, knives and tools :embarrassed_smile:

[Manege Master]

I traveled a lot before retirement but never found good pens in an airport. I have seen pens at various tourist destinations, in particular places in ports of call that cater to cruise ship crowds who make impulse purchases. The Bahamas is a good example. My wife likes to look at jewelry and I have discovered pens for sale in most shops. MB 146's for some reason seemed to be everywhere. The problem, however, is that they are being sold in an upscale jewelry store who:

 

• 
   
  [

*]Have only the one model pen

Only have medium nibbed pens

No, we don't stock ink, this is a jewelry store

No, we don't know a thing about the pen, this is a jewelry store

So, you probably are not going to be able to ink the pen until much later, after you're back home usually, and if there is a problem, well, that's your problem. I personally think it is not a good idea to buy pens except from a trustworthy source, one you know is knowledgeable and dependable and you are also supporting a reputable pen dealer. I'm not saying the jewelry store is anything but honest, but they are not the best source for such specialty items.

[Glaurung]

Heathrow has an OK MB store. I got a good deal on Etoile for my wife there thanks to then rapidly falling pound and them not adjusting prices quickly enough.