Six top destinations

Los Angeles: £229
Delta Airlines from Heathrow via Cincinnati. Must be booked by December 31. Valid for departures January 1-March 14. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum stay 30 days. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).

Sydney: £555
Korean Air from Heathrow via Seoul. Valid for departures until March 31. Minimum stay seven days, maximum one year. Quest Travel (0870 4423508).

Amsterdam: £65
BMI British Midlands from East Midlands. Must be bought at least one week before departure. Valid for certain departures, except Fridays and Sundays, January 8-March 21. Minimum stay one Saturday night or two other nights, maximum two months. BMI British Midland (0870 607 0555).

New York: £218.90
British Airways from Heathrow. Must be booked by December 31. Full payment required when booking. Valid for departures until March 21. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Airline Network (0800 727747).

Hong Kong: £457
Lufthansa from Manchester via Frankfurt Valid for departures January 1-July 14. Minimum stay seven days, maximum three months. Trailfinders (020-7938 3939).

Paris: £65
BMI British Midlands from Heathrow. Must be bought at least one week before departure. Valid for certain departures, except Fridays and Sundays, January 8-March 21. Minimum stay one Saturday night or two other nights, maximum two months. BMI British Midland (0870 6070555).

The pick of the rest

Malaga: £95
Monarch Airlines charter from Manchester. Departs January 20 for seven nights. Avro (0870 0360116).

Miami: £230.90
British Airways from Heathrow. Must be booked by December 31. Full payment required when booking. Valid for departures until March 21. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Airline Network (0800 727747).

Buenos Aires: £471
Varig from Heathrow via Rio or São Paulo. Valid for departures January 2-March 31. Minimum stay seven days, maximum one month. Journey Latin America (020-8747 3108).

Boston: £199
American Airlines from Heathrow. Must be booked by January 3. Valid for departures December 25-March 21. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Travelbag (0870 8901459).

And the rail alternative

Paris/Brussels: £79. Lille £69

Eurostar from Waterloo. Must be bought at least 14 days before departure. Minimum stay one Saturday night or two other nights. Eurostar (0870 5186186).

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.