India, March 24 -- A wonder that perhaps only AI or Elon Musk can crack is how come my bag has logged more miles over the past few weeks than I've done in years.

In the parlance of a retired academic like me, luxury travel means taking the Vande Bharat instead of the usual Jan Shatabdi for my monthly run from Chandigarh to Gurugram and back. But this time, I would fly, travel miles on my son's corporate account.

As I strut in breezily, a la George Clooney in Hollywood hit 'Up in the Air, the young lady at the check-in counter asks, "Sir, do you really want to check in this small bag? It's less than 7kg." "Yes, indeed," I reply, "Who wants to lug it all the way to the boarding gate."

On arrival at Chandigarh, I walk to the carousel for ...