Two of the year’s most important airfare sales are underway through midnight Thursday.

If you’ve been waiting for a ‘deal’ to come along — look no further than this opportunity to travel for as little as $45 one-way.

AirTran offers greatly reduced one-way rates on travel from Nov. 28-Dec. 18 or Jan. 4-March 1, 2013. The most significant feature of this sale is that the low rates are valid seven days a week, based on sale seat availability. Some blackout dates apply: To/from New Orleans Jan. 31-Feb. 14 2013; to/from Las Vegas Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2013; to/from Washington Reagan National (DCA) and to/from Baltimore Jan. 17-23.

One-way rates are:

  • $45 Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham N.C.; Columbus or Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis; Jacksonville, Orlando, Pensacola or Tampa, Fla.; New Orleans; Richmond, Va.; St. Louis, Mo.
  • $75 Akron-Canton, Ohio; Baltimore; Boston; Branson, Mo.; Buffalo-Niagara, New York-LaGuardia or Rochester, N.Y.; Chicago; Detroit or Flint, Mich.; Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers or W. Palm Beach, Fla.; Houston or San Antonio, Texas; Kansas City, Mo.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Philadelphia or Pittsburgh; Phoenix (service ends Jan. 4) and Washington D.C.
  • $99 Denver
  • $110 Portland, Maine
  • $135 Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco

AirTran’s service to these destinations from Atlanta is nonstop.

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Frontier gets in on these super sale days with slashed one-way rates to destinations in the West. To qualify, give a one-week or more advance notice of travel. Sale rates are valid on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays now through November 27; Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays from Nov. 28-Dec. 12; Mondays-Saturdays from Jan. 7-Feb. 13. Discount airfares are not valid Oct. 21; Nov. 20, 21, 24-26.

One-way rates are:

  • $63.80 Denver
  • $110.60 Colorado Springs
  • $112.60 Albuquerque, N.M.
  • $120.60 Omaha, Neb.; Orange County or San Francisco, Calif. and Spokane, Wash.
  • $121.60 Salt Lake City or Seattle
  • $130.60 Portland, Ore.
  • $133.60 San Diego
  • $143.60 Santa Barbara, Calif.

Frontier serves these sale destinations with one flight connection in Denver.

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Sale airfares are always subject to change. Every seat on every flight is not offered at the lowest rate. Since only a limited supply of seats is available, act quickly to make your purchase.

I recommend starting the search for available seats at Kayak.com vs. calling an airline directly. You can also search for the sale at travel websites such as Expedia or Travelocity, etc.

— Clara Bosonetto is a retired travel consultant.