Look ahead to wintertime ski getaways

The first day of October officially puts summer in the rear view mirror. It’s time to look ahead to those wintertime getaways to the slopes — and these great deals should get you motivated to buy tickets now:

• $305 round-trip to Salt Lake City, Utah: This deal from Delta Air Lines is valid on trips finished on or before March 17, 2013. Give a 21-day or more advance notice of travel. A minimum stay of three nights is required on Sunday-Wednesday departures, otherwise stay one Saturday night. Blackout dates to avoid are: Nov. 20, 21, 24-26; Dec. 20-24, 26-30; Jan. 2, 5-7 and Feb. 14, 15, 18. Delta operates frequent daily nonstop flights between Atlanta and Salt Lake.

• $375.20 Steamboat Springs-Hayden, Colo. and $410.20 to Aspen, Colo. or Jackson Hole, Wyoming: What's shocking about these exclusive round-trip deals from United Airlines is the lack of blackout dates. These rates are valid on trips taken through the summer of 2013. Give a 21-day or more advance purchase notice. Head west Mondays-Wednesdays or Sundays and east Tuesdays-Fridays. Plan to stay at least any two nights. United serves these destinations with one stop service in Denver.

These offers do not have a ticket-by date which indicates that the deals could expire at anytime. Since only a limited supply of seats is available, act quickly to make your purchase.

Sale airfares are always subject to change. Every seat on every flight is not offered at the lowest rate.

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.