If you have been in an airport in the last 10 years, you must have seen or used the ubiquitous retractable handle luggage. These bags are handy, as they are on wheels and have a handle that comes up when needed, letting you drag it around airports, hotel lobbies or wherever your travels take you. If you have a retractable handle bag with a stuck or jammed handle, try a few tested ways to free the handle and make the bag "handy" once again.
Remove the Housing
Use a small screwdriver, such as those found on pocket-sized multi-tools, to unscrew the retaining bolts on the housing panel where the handle retracts. Pull the housing up and off the luggage, exposing the handle mechanism.
Find the Cause of the Jam
Shine a small light into the handle housing. See if any obstructions such as paper, pebbles or small stones or items are clogging the retracting handle. Remove this debris if present.
If the handle is jammed because it is off-track or the poles are not lubricated, push the handle back onto the track, then firmly grip and pull up on the handle to work the telescoping poles.
Lubricate the Handle Poles
Add some dry lubricant such as a paraffin-based lube or a graphite lube to the pole sliders. This helps get the poles working again with as little friction as possible, a possible source of the jamming on the handle.
Push the handle up and down several times to work the lubricant deep into the sides.
Replace the Housing
Place the housing plate back over the handle and align the handle properly so it does not get caught on the housing panel when you try to retract or pull up. Screw the retaining bolts back in, open the handle, and get back on the road to safe and easy travels.