In article ,
Roger Shoaf wrote:
Sounds to me like you had the suitcase upside down. Samsonite uses a
gravity catch to prevent opening the case upside down. If you would have
flipped the case to the other side it would have opened.

Call around to luggage stores they can either repair it for you or advise
you where to go. If you have no luck check out the used suitcases at thrift
stores and see if you can either find another case that matches or one that
has the same locks you can swap into your case.

--

Roger Shoaf

Thanks much to you two who responded.

Good advice -- I'll give it a try!

David