Baggage fees are up. Here’s how to avoid them.

Travelers in premium cabins and active military personnel often have their baggage fees waived. For the rest of us, the best options are credit cards and airline loyalty programs, which, depending on your status, may mean a break on baggage fees. Some credit cards effectively get you free checked bags by offering an airline fee credit that you can use on airplane tickets, bags, or other purchases. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card ($795 annual fee) offers a $300 travel credit per year that can be used to cover bag fees, while the Platinum Card from American Express ($895…