4. Choose a Travel Card That Offers an Airline Fee Credit

Having an airline credit card isn’t the only way to avoid checked bag fees. Some cards, such as the Platinum Card from American Express, give you airline fee credits you can use to pay various charges, including checked bag fees, on a qualifying airline (you must enroll to receive these credits).

These credits can also be applied to dining, in-flight wifi, or seat selection fees. The downside is that American Express requires you to choose an airline at the beginning of the year, so you’ll only be able to use the fee credit with the airline you select ahead of time.

Some travel credit cards come with flexible credits that can be used for any type of travel. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers cardholders a $300 annual travel credit that can be used to pay any travel expense, including checked baggage fees.

Another option would be to pick up a fixed-value travel credit or card that lets you earn cash back, both of which can be used to pay checked bag fees.

For example, with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you can earn 5 miles for every dollar you spend on rental cars and hotels booked via Capital One Travel and 2 miles for any other kind of purchase. There’s also a bonus: you get 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 within 3 months of the account opening.