It is impossible to imagine a traveler without a suitcase or, in extreme cases, travel bag. And although if you have a sufficient amount of money, all the essentials can be bought almost anywhere, there are many items that are inherently irreplaceable, valuable and beloved, which are simply impossible not to take with you.

Therefore, many passengers, in order to provide additional protection for their belongings, use suitcases with locks, because luggage is checked at the check-in counter at the departure point, and is most often issued upon arrival at the final destination. But sometimes an unpleasant situation happens and a very significant problem arises, how can you unlock the lock on a suitcase if you have forgotten the code. Let's try to find ways to solve it.

The main division of modern locks for suitcases and luggage bags is based on their fastening and method of opening: built-in and padded; locks with a key or combination. Let's look at the features of each of them.

Built-in lock with key opening

This type is the oldest and most familiar, because it has been produced since the time Soviet Union, and many passengers trust him. The lock body itself is built directly into the wall of the suitcase and is opened using a regular key.

This model, when using a high-quality lock, is considered the most reliable protection of all, although its cost will be quite high. If the key to such a suitcase is lost, then you most likely will not be able to open it yourself, and the help of a repair specialist simply cannot be avoided.

If a simple budget lock was installed, then you can try to pry the latch inside the hole with a thin file or a knife blade. Most likely it won't be too difficult and the lock will open. But the reliability of such protection is worth doubting.

Built-in combination lock

This type of suitcase lock is the most inexpensive and widespread today, and it is installed on almost all models of bags. Most often consists of three small wheels with numbers, directly the latch itself with slots for metal or plastic zipper sliders and a button for setting the code.

To understand how to open a suitcase if you forgot the 3-digit code, you need to know how it works.

The castle was originally exhibited code "000", and you can reset this code by pressing a button. After this, the combination of numbers you need is set. After this, zipper sliders are installed in specially designed slots, and the numbers are changed to a random set.

In fact, opening the code on a suitcase if you have forgotten the code is not much of a problem, considering that the cost of the entire product is low, and the reliability is also low. What you can do:

• You can try to choose a combination of numbers. When the correct data is set, certain clicks may be heard, or the wheels will begin to scroll easier, or vice versa, harder.
• You can use exactly the same method with the cipher reset button lightly pressed, scrolling the disks until they stop.
• With large gaps, it is possible to see the details of the lock, and by combining the internal holes in it, you can determine the entire sequence.
• If the above methods did not help, you are left with a complete code selection by brute force method, that is, “001”, “002”, “003” and so on. This process is quite long, but after 1.5 hours, the result will probably be achieved.
• If all these methods are how to open a combination lock if you forgot the code on your suitcase , didn't help, you'll have to use more radical methods. Often the sliders are made of plastic, so they can be broken off with a knife or screwdriver. But there will no longer be any protection until repairs are made.

Features of padlocks

The main difference between such a lock is its external location, most often on the zipper sliders. Like the built-in one, it comes in two types: with a key and coded. Reliability depends on the quality of the product, because good things are rarely cheap, but despite this, suitcases with padlocks are most often subject to break-ins.

How to open a padlock if you have lost the key or forgotten the code:

• You can try to open a padlock with a key using a small screwdriver or, in extreme cases, bite the shackle;
• You can try to open a combination padlock using the same methods as a built-in one. The only difference is that there are no plastic breakable parts. In extreme cases, powerful wire cutters will save you.

To avoid the loss of expensive and valuable things, it is best and most reliable to transport them with you on board, in hand luggage, and wrap the suitcase itself tightly with plastic wrap, because this will not only immediately indicate a break-in, but will also protect it from dirt.

In contact with

What is a TSA Lock and how do I install one? A TSA lock (TSA lock) is a lock with a customs inspection function. Its main task is to ensure unhindered inspection of your luggage if necessary. TSA locks are required to be installed and configured for all travelers planning to travel to the United States.

The TSA Lock was created after the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. The TSA (Transportation Security Administration - American Transportation Security Association) scans each passenger's luggage before loading it on board the aircraft. At some intervals, service employees open randomly selected luggage for a more detailed inspection. In this case, if the luggage is equipped with non-TSA approved locks, they will be forced to gain access.

If the baggage is equipped with a TSA lock, if inspection is necessary, customs authorities will open it with a universal master key without confusing the code or damaging the suitcase. There are currently universal keys for TSA locks

TSA-approved locks have a universal master key that makes them easy to open without messing up the code or damaging your suitcase. Only the customs services of the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Israel have such a key. Each TSA-approved lock has an identifying mark - a red diamond - indicating that it can be opened with a master key.

Samsonite provides TSA padlocks and built-in locks (attached to the body of the suitcase) on its suitcases, and customs inspection locks are divided into key-operated and combination-operated locks.

If your suitcase has a TSA combination lock, you'll find our guide on how to change the code useful. So how do you change your TSA lock code?

How do I set up a TSA combination padlock?

Built-in TSA combination locks installed on suitcases of the Aeris and S"Cure, S"Cure DLX collections

Built-in TSA combination locks installed on suitcases from the Essensis, Colory, BLite Xtra collections

Built-in TSA combination locks installed on suitcases from the Inova, Spin Trunk, and Cosmolite collections

Built-in TSA cable locks for Duranxt Uprights collection cases

Built-in TSA combination locks installed on Cubelite, Cosmolite, Firelite, Skywheeler, Synconn collection suitcases

Any manufacturer of a suitcase with a combination lock sets the default combination of numbers in the code before sale. Usually these are the simplest options, similar to the PIN codes of mobile gadgets “four zeros”, “three ones” and so on. Most buyers, of course, change the code to their combination in order to reduce the chances of fraudsters opening their luggage. But what to do if the order of numbers you entered has slipped your mind? How to open the lock of a suitcase if you have forgotten the code to it?

We select options and look carefully

Probably the most painstaking, but also the most optimal in terms of the scale of consequences, is the selection of possible combinations. Knowledgeable people recommend this method if you need a suitcase in the next 24 hours, but you won’t have time to get to the specialist during this time. There can be hundreds of combinations of three or four numbers, and attempts will take more than one hour. There is also a secret: if you look closely at the lock mechanism, you will notice small gaps between its internal parts. If you typed the wrong number, only the mechanism wheel will be visible in the gap. But if the number is correct, you will notice a groove. This will mean that you have already guessed part of the code. Another way is to not press the lock release button too hard and start turning the wheels at the same time. As soon as the first stops, take on the second, also until it stops, and then the third. In general, searching through all possible combinations of three numbers takes up to two to two and a half hours.

We focus on hearing

In a similar way, you can try to choose a combination “by ear”. You need to rotate the wheels very slowly, listening carefully. As soon as you hear a slight click, leave the wheel in the position in which it was heard. Pay attention to how much effort you have to exert to turn the wheels, and record the moments when the lock gives in too easily or, on the contrary, too tightly. It is worth noting that this option is only good for suitcases in the mass market segment, because prestigious products usually have silent locks.

Mechanical methods

Again, they are more suitable in the case of suitcases that are affordable in price. You can use a manicure file to “break” the lock, or open it with a regular screwdriver, or if you have a knife at hand, then with a knife. The easiest lock to pick is one that is made partly of plastic (specifically the plastic latches that secure the sliders) rather than one made entirely of metal.

In addition to built-in ones, there are also suitcase padlocks with codes. If you forget the code on a suitcase in such a lock, you can try to find a suitable combination of numbers by turning the wheels. If you don’t have time to tinker, you can simply cut off the shackle of the padlock, but for this, of course, you will need at least some kind of tool.

In a workshop

If you have the opportunity to contact a specialist, be prepared for the fact that the specialist may require confirmation of your rights to the suitcase. You can use the receipt received at the airport as proof.

Extreme

You can “sacrifice” the zipper and open the suitcase by piercing it ballpoint pen. The handle should be inserted between the right and left parts of the clasp, press down and move it apart. Then, releasing the slider, close the clasp again.

It happens that you realize that you forgot the code while the suitcase is still open. Don't rush to slam the lid! Undermine the lining in the place where the lock is attached, and using a Phillips screwdriver, simply unscrew the bolts that secure the lock to the body. On the inside of the removed lock, you will need to unscrew the protective cover under which the mechanism is located. After this, you should set the position of the wheels so that all the notches take a horizontal position. This will be the code that you forgot. You can remember it or change it to a new one before screwing the lock back onto the suitcase body.

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It is impossible to travel without a suitcase - you should always have a minimum set of necessary things with you. Their safety is ensured by a combination lock. But there are situations when the owner of the suitcase forgets the combination of numbers he came up with. The problem is completely solvable, stay calm and try the methods we suggest, from simple to complex. Radical measures are resorted to only in extreme cases.

Before closing the suitcase, the user sets a combination of numbers known only to him and locks the lock. To open it, you need to align the disks of special cylinders so that the previously entered number appears in the slots. When all numbers are set in the correct order, the locking device will release and the lock will open.

The lock is convenient to use, and there are several reasons for this:

• no need to store a key that could be lost;
• The digital combination can be replaced every time the suitcase is used;
• communicating the code to your family (or, if necessary, to someone else) will make it possible for everyone involved to use the suitcase without handing over the keys; again, they may get lost.

Unfortunately, there is a flip side to the coin - the combination lock also has a lot of disadvantages:

• numbers are easily forgotten, especially if the item has not been used for a long time. A suitcase lock is just that item that is needed only from time to time;
• the use of dates of birth, addresses, known numbers (for example, Pi, E) in the code combination makes the process of selecting a code for “specialists” elementary;
• a code written down on paper increases the likelihood of the lock being opened by a stranger . You can also spy on it, especially if it was opened and closed at the airport.

What to do if you forgot the code for your suitcase?

There are several ways to select a digital lock code. They are simple and humane, but can be time consuming. If you need to quickly open a suitcase, more radical methods are used that do not spare the locking mechanism and zipper.

The best way to open the lock is to contact a specialist who will not only free your things, but will help you set a new code and lubricate the mechanism. However, you will need to pay a certain amount to solve the problem and service the lock, and also prove that you are the owner of the suitcase (for example, using a luggage receipt, warranty card or check).

If for some reason you do not contact a specialist, try to deal with the problem yourself using the methods listed below. Choose those that seem most suitable to you. Remember that extreme methods of opening will inevitably entail additional costs.

We look at the type of lock

Combination locks installed on suitcases come in two types:

Locks of the first type are located on the upper outer panel of the suitcase and are fixed to it with bolts. You can see the fastenings by opening the zipper on the lining. In some cases, emergency opening of the lock operates through its removal from the bolts.

Combination padlocks are a metal structure with an eyelet and disks for entering a code, which ensures the safety of luggage.

To open a certain type of lock, you need to understand what the locking device is in this case.. In the case of a fixed lock, you need to operate the wheels with numbers, which, if all the code numbers match, will unlock the bolt and the lock will open. If we are dealing with a padlock, then the discs can be opened only through a force load on the lock eye.

Ways to crack a password

Factory settings usually consist of three “0s” or three “1s”. Try typing these combinations first. If it doesn’t help, move on to another method.

Think about what numbers you could choose as a password - random ones or the dates of some significant events. Choose combinations for birthdays, weddings, diploma defense, birth of a child, etc. If it doesn’t work out, don’t despair. Let's do it differently.

Slowly rotate the dial wheel and listen to the sounds. A characteristic click will indicate that the disk needs to be stopped at this point. Repeat the same action with the two remaining mechanisms. Open the lock latch.

Important! This method is easier to use if you close your eyes in complete silence and listen to the clicks.

This method is not suitable for high-quality products: the wheels of the disks rotate silently there. No matter how much you strain your ears - with with open eyes or closed - you won’t be able to hear or change anything. But you can use one more method - elementary selection of code numbers starting from 001, 002, 003 and so on until the correct numbers. Of course, this is a long time, perhaps even a couple of hours. But the result is guaranteed, sooner or later the code combination will fall into place, and the lock and clasps of the suitcase will remain safe and sound.

As you spin the wheels, you will notice a small gap underneath the disc. This is a signal that the desired number has been found. Continue spinning the remaining dials. If the number is incorrect, nothing will be visible; with the correct number, you will see a small groove at the bottom. Set all values ​​and open the suitcase. If this does not work, try synchronously turning all the numbers 1-2 divisions to the left and right until the lock is released.

In a similar way, you can work with disks without turning them, but using a flashlight to illuminate the gap between the wheel and the lock body. A small notch opposite the number indicates that the required number has been found. Work in this way on all the disks, and the result will help you open the suitcase. An alternative to this method is to work not with a flashlight, but with a thin object such as an open paper clip, which should feel a recess in the gap between the disk and the lock panel.

A combination padlock can be “listened” by pulling the steel tab firmly and turning the wheels. A light click will help determine the correct number on the disk.

Mechanical methods to open a suitcase

If you are the owner of a premium suitcase, then you definitely won’t need the following methods. And you can try to cope with simpler models, prying the latch on the lock with a simple nail file, a thin minus screwdriver, or a knife blade.

Nothing helped - there are drastic methods:

How to reset the password on a Samsonite suitcase?

There are different models of TSA combination locks installed on suitcases. In order to change the factory settings, follow these steps:

1. Set the code numbers to 000;
2. Use a pin or a handle to press the button into the body;
3. We dial a new digital combination while pressing the button;
4. Let go of the pin. The new code has been installed.

Important! In some modifications of locks, when you press the button, it is fixed in the body. Reset is performed by pressing again.

Step-by-step replacement of a combination lock on a suitcase

To prevent theft of items from your luggage, you need to change the factory code settings, consisting of three “0s” (three “1s”), to a combination of numbers known only to you and remember it. To avoid hackers from opening your suitcase by selecting numbers, do not use your address, date of birth, or other significant events.

1. Instructions for setting up a three-lock locking system:
   • On the back of the clip with the code combination, find the red plate (OFF) and fold it back. Set a new code combination and return the die to its original state. The new code combination has been set.

Each product with a TSA standard lock comes with graphic instructions.

If you need further assistance, please write to us.

Product operation

Rules for using products.
Retractable (telescopic) handle:

• Opening and closing should occur smoothly, without sudden jerks, by pressing the handle lock button.
• We do not recommend using the retractable handle as the main means of carrying, both for short-term and long-term carrying of the product.
• Before checking the product into your luggage, make sure that the handle is securely locked in the closed position. For additional protection of the handle from breakage/deformation in case of careless handling during loading/unloading, we recommend purchasing a luggage strap.

Slider and zipper:

• To avoid problems with the zipper getting stuck/broken, we recommend lifting the zipper slider when opening/closing the product, avoiding the fabric side or rubber rim getting under it. In this case, the slider will slide evenly and smoothly along the zipper.

Rubber rim:

• Some products have a rubber band over the zipper as a protective feature. In the cold it becomes less flexible and can become damaged. We do not recommend opening the product immediately upon coming into the room from the cold, but wait until the parts warm up to room temperature.

• We do not recommend using the wheel mechanisms or the wheels themselves when going down steps, curbs and other ledges without lifting the product.
• To prevent contamination of the wheel mechanisms and the wheels themselves, lubricate them with a universal technical fluid (example: WD-40) or a Teflon-based spray. To do this, apply a little product closer to the center (axis) of the wheel and spin it.

Loading rate:

• The acceptable (approximate) loading rate is one third of the volume of the product, converted into kilograms. In order to calculate the loading rate of your suitcase, divide its volume in liters by three. The resulting value is the approximate loading rate for your product. Note: for a suitcase with a capacity of 90 liters the norm will be 30 kg.

Traveling with American Tourister

Can I take my luggage into the cabin?
General guidance is that cabin baggage must have a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm. These dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets and other external/protruding parts/parts.

Dimensions, volume and weight measurements are carried out in Samsonite laboratories using technologies and procedures that allow deviations of up to 1.5 cm in dimensions and 5% in volume and weight.
Samsonite reserves the right to make changes to specifications, colors, dimensions, volume and weight of any product without prior warning. Color deviation may occur due to the printing technology used.

Important! Airlines may apply additional restrictions on the size and weight of baggage carried in the aircraft cabin. Samsonite is not responsible if the airline applies these restrictions. Please check with your airline for current restrictions prior to your travel.

MAXIMUM EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT OF BAGGAGE ALLOWED FOR ECONOMY CLASS