Six top destinations

Sydney: £551

Japan Airlines from Heathrow via Tokyo or Osaka. Must be booked by August 31. Full payment required when booking. Valid for departures September 17- October 3. No return flights allowed December 7 - January 15. No minimum stay, maximum stay one year. Airline Network (0800 727747).

Los Angeles: £292

Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow. Valid for departures November 1 - December 19. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum six months. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).

New York: £199

Air India from Heathrow. Valid for departures November 1 - December 15. No minimum stay, maximum 60 days. Thomas Cook Flights Direct (0870 7520066).

Hong Kong: £434

Emirates from Manchester via Dubai. Valid for departures September 1 - 30. Minimum stay seven days, maximum two months. Trailfinders (0161-839 6969).

Paris: £74

British Airways from Gatwick. Valid for departures until December 31. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum two months. Thomas Cook Flights Direct (0870 7520066).

Amsterdam: £78

BMI British Midland from Heathrow. Valid indefinitely. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum three months. Return flight must be Monday - Thursday. British Midland (0870 6070555).

The pick of the rest Delhi: £365

KLM uk/KLM from Heathrow, Stansted, Bristol, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Humberside, Leeds/Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Teesside via Amsterdam. Must be booked by August 31. Valid for departures until October 31. Minimum stay seven days, maximum six months. Trailfinders (020-7938 3939).

Perth: £509

Malaysia Airlines from Heathrow or Manchester via Kuala Lumpur. Must be booked by August 22. Valid for departure September 1 - November 30, January 16 - March 31 next year. No minimum stay, maximum stay one year. Travelbag (0870 7377779).

Venice: £179

Britannia Airways charter from Gatwick. Departs August 24 for 14 nights. Lunn Poly Direct (0870 3334400).

Ibiza: £109

Monarch Airlines charter from Manchester. Departs September 9 for seven nights. Avro (020-8695 4440).

And the rail alternative

Paris/Brussels: £50. Lille: £45

Same day return fare. Tickets must be bought by August 31and at least three days before travel. Valid for departures until September 9. Outward journey must be before 10.30am, return after 4pm. Eurostar (08705 186186).

NB Fares can change rapidly. These were available in reasonable quantities at the time of writing, but they can sell out in a sudden rush.