<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914478</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAMSONITE CORP/FL</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SAMC.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001340044</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wong Bethell Melissa</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>DEVONSHIRE HOUSE MAYFAIR PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>W1J 8AJ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2003 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1442</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2410.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4157997</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47561</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 2003 Convertible Preferred Stock is immediately convertible at the option of the holder.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">There is no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Calculated by dividing the face value and accrued dividends (through December 30, 2005) by the conversion price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Bain Capital (Europe) LLC (&quot;BCE&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of the 2003 Convertible Preferred Stock reported in Table II.  Bain Capital Investors, LLC (&quot;BCI&quot;) is the sole manager of BCE and, as such, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the 2003 Convertible Preferred Stock reported in Table II.  The Reporting Person is a Vice President of BCE and may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the 2003 Convertible Preferred Stock owned by BCE to the extent of the Reporting Person's indirect proportionate interest in BCE.  The Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the 2003 Convertible Preferred Stock reported in Table II, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Melissa Wong Bethell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
