Sometimes it pays to be a kid – or, to be more accurate, you DON’T pay if you have a kid. Several American ski resorts have partnered with various airlines to offer special “Kids Fly Free” packages to entice family travelers to their slopes. Add that to a deal for free food, lodging, lift tickets and/or ski rentals from the resort, and you’re looking at a good value family ski trip.

Ski vacations are never dirt cheap (the outfits alone will put you back some), but getting a break on the youngsters is a nice incentive to head for the hills. These offers are usually of the “free child per full paying adult” variety, so you might want to do the math to see if you can work out a better deal with some of the other non-kid-specific ski specials out there. Pay close attention to the age restrictions, blackout dates, minimum nights and other small print details – marketing spin can often make things sound better than they actually are.

There’s still time to jump on one of these this ski season, but booking cut-off dates are approaching fast.

Sun Valley/Ketchum
Kids Fly, Ski, Stay and Eat Free at Sun Valley/Ketchum, Idaho with this special package through Horizon Air, departing from LAX or Seattle. Kids age 2-11 can tag along free with a paying adult from Jan 4-31 and March 1-30. Check the website for a list of participating area lodges and restaurants.

Vail
Kids Fly Free on American Airlines to Vail/Eagle County Airport in Colorado until March 31, 2009 (purchase before February 28). Each paying adult can bring a child age 2 –12, with a minimum 2 day/maximum 30 day trip. Time it right and you can also tack on a free lift ticket for the day you fly in. Just show your boarding pass and Vail Valley lodging confirmation at any Vail ticket window.

Steamboat
Great value family ski trips can be found at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, who pioneered the Kids Fly Free concept. Combine a Kids Fly Free deal (midweek flights on United or American) with a Kids Ski Free package (free with a 5 day adult pass purchase), and they’ll even give you free ski rentals when an adult rents for 5 or more days.

Jackson Hole
Kids can fly, stay and ski free with a fare-paying adult in family-favorite Jackson Hole, Wyoming through a special promotion with American Airlines, in conjunction with a lift and lodging package. Book by February 28 and travel through March 31, 2009.

Red River
There’s no free flight, but this New Mexico ski area offers a Kids Ski Free/Stay Free package for each child age 10 and under per adult paying for a three day minimum ski/stay. A variety of area lodges are participating in this deal.