The Tonight Show is on way past my bedtime, so I’m really glad that Terry Maxon at the Airline Biz blog makes a point of posting the jokes and jabs Jay Leno makes about airports and air travel.

All those extra charges and service cutbacks the airlines are announcing are making it way too easy on the Tonight Show writers. From Leno’s monologue last night (June 17, 2008):

“If you’ve been to the airport at all the last couple of weeks, you know the airlines are now charging people to check your bag. One bag, you have to check it now, and they charge you $15 to check a bag, 15 bucks, and 30 bucks if you ever want to see that bag again.”

There’s more….

Now that American Airlines has announced that it will begin charging most domestic passengers $15 to check their first bag, it’s a fair bet other major airlines will do the same.

Travelers are pissed off about this move, but it just seems inevitable that everyone will soon pay to check their bags at the airport.

But maybe not. Consider this: Southwest Airlines, which allows travelers to check two items for free, sent out a press release Thursday reaffirming that the airline has no plans to change its checked baggage policy.

The release ends: “We look forward to seeing you on board very soon. (And bring your luggage!)”

Any bets on how long this will last?

It’s a fair bet that, for the foreseeable future, there are going to be longer-than-usual lines at curbside check-in kiosks and lobby ticket counters as travelers, airline personnel, and skycaps get accustomed to the new fees most airlines are now – or will soon be – charging for checking more than one bag.

One way to avoid the lines – but not the fees – is to check-in your bags someplace other than the airport. In my USATODAY.com column this week I describe services that allow travelers to check bags at hotel lobbies, convention centers, cruise ships, short and long-term parking lots, and car rental facilities.

Yesterday, May 5^th, United, Continental, Delta, Northwest and US Airways began charging non-exempt passengers $25 for checking a second bag. Soon it will also cost extra to check a second bag on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, Air Tran, and JetBlue.

Want that money back?

The Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Group has announced a “We Got Your Bag” promotion. Stay at one of the company’s 43 hotels in the U.S. and Canada between May 22 and Sept 9; show proof of having paid an extra baggage charge; and get a room credit of up to $25.

For rules and details see: www.kimptonhotels.com

Starting today, May 5th, non-exempt travelers flying on Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways must pay $25 to check a second piece of luggage. American Airlines will begin charging that same $25 on May 12. Air Tran jumps in with a $10 second-bag fee on May 15^th. And, just in time for summer travel, passengers on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air will start paying that $25 fee on July 1^st.

One bit of good news: As of today, United Airlines will waive that second bag fee for passengers who pay to check luggage at remote baggage check-in sites such as hotel lobbies, convention centers and cruise ships.

No word yet on how long the airline will be doing that, but so far it is the only airline to do so.