I managed to snag a ticket via NWA (thanks for the advice, GUWonder; NWA beat Expedia, Orbitz, etc. by a large margin). Now I have another question: post 9/11, the checked-in luggage must not be locked, correct? Is this true for International destinations too? Then how does one prevent some random baggage handler in a random country from pilfering your stuff?

Checked in luggage cannot be locked; you can use a TSA approved lock (which I think they have a master key to, so it's les than useless as a security device) or you can ock it and risk the TSA cutting the lock open.

I prefer when travelling US-Europe to use the elastic part of the bag tags and use that to close zips together, ensuring the bags do not fall open in trabsit.

In for non european destination exUSA, particularly the Third world I would recommend TSA locks, other non-USA transits use full locks.

I'm glad www.nwa.com came through for you too.

Plastic ties that can be cut off easily seem to work for flights leaving the US. [But that doesn't stop some careless (or dim-witted) member of the TSA from breaking off your tie and a piece of your luggage at the same time.] On the return to the US, you can use a standard lock as travellers always did before. In DEL, on your return, the initial checked baggage screeners (before checking in) will place a strip around the middle of your suitcase to seal it shut and around the lock of the suitcase or the suitcases zipper. However, once you clear customs in the US on your return, then you should remove the lock prior to transferring your luggage onwards from the port of entry in the US. If the lock is not removed and the TSA in the US gets their hands on the bag, they have a tendency to break more than just the lock on more than a rare occassion.

The only country that requires you not to lock luggage today is the US. So on all flights ex-USA you can only use the TSA appoved lock. For all other flights, you can lock your luggage.

But even locks on your luggage don't deter anyone from stealing tings from your bags. The locks are not resistant to any good screw driver anyway.

What makes you think a baggage handler in the US is any less likely to steal from you ?

If you have hard side luggage, leave the combination locks unlocked with a taped post-it note asking the US handlers to spin the combination. Do not lock the key based locks on the hard-side.

Whether US handlers will spin the combination - no assurances.

You should buy TSA locks for soft-sided luggage.

You may also have hard-side luggage that accepts TSA locks, but I haven't seen any yet.

This much has worked for me on past trips to SIN and BLR.

The TSA locks i have used on my soft-side luggage are on this page. Ignore the cable.

They did not have a strap earlier, you may want to consider this TSA approved strap for your hardside

Geez! Where can one buy these "TSA-approved" locks locally? It's too late to mailorder for me

Try a AAA travel store. They have the regular TSA approved locks (not the strap based ones).