It had to happen, and just at the time of year when train passengers are lugging more luggage, holiday gifts and other heavy stuff. With airline add-on costs ever rising into the upper atmosphere, it was only a matter of time before Amtrac got in on the racket.

Therefore, if you drag heavy bags aboard a train, you may expect a conductor or other eagle-eyed employee will nab you for extra charges. The current rule for free luggage is that each passenger may take two personal items that weigh up to 25 pounds each, as well as two carry-on bags that may weigh up to 50 pounds each.

A recent news item reported that a young guy in a wheelchair deliberately went through security successfully with banned items in his bag. He used a hidden camera to show how he brought metal tools and bottled water.

This very old travel4seniors.com writer frequently must use a wheelchair in airports, and believes that kind of stupid joke is beyond unfunny. It creates added problems for all physically-challenged passengers who cannot walk aboard their flights.

In this advanced tech nation, where robot hotel bellhops lug luggage and humanoid clerks check you in, this shouldn’t be unexpected. According to official reports, visitors will be able to hail computerized cabs in the Japanese capital city by 2020.

Consider the possibilities. If you remember the 1976 movie, Taxi Driver, would you want a robotically insane Robert De Niro (Travis Bickle) driving you around town? Also, after settling into back seat, will the automatic taxi driver automatically run up the meter by taking the longest route to your hotel?

If there’s a major pro sports event or convention in town, will the automatic taxi driver automatically up the rate 500 percent? Will the mechanical taxi driver refuse to take anyone wearing a hoodie? Will the robot taxi driver be programmed to laugh hysterically as it aims at little old ladies in wheelchairs as they cross the street?

Will we too soon have to say sayonara to Tokyo’s human taxi drivers?

Many seniors already walk around wearing t-shirts, hoodies, caps and other clothing with logos and names of their favorite teams printed on them. So this promotion sounds like a great, money-saving idea.

According to USAToday, Orion Travel Tech offers to reward airline passengers to travel with luggage featuring ads printed on the sides. After an annual fee of $19.99, each volunteer can get luggage charges paid for up to six round-trip flights a year. Considering that it can cost a couple $100 or more a flight to check bags, savings can be considerable. oriontraveltech.com