Six top destinations

Sydney: £549

Gulf Air from Heathrow via Bahrain. Valid for departures until December 15, then December 26-February 5. Minimum stay five days, maximum four months, but all travel must be completed by March 15. Quest Worldwide Travel (0870 4423513, questtravel.com).

New York: £213

Kuwait Airways from Heathrow. Valid for departures until December 14. No minimum stay, maximum six months.Trailfinders (020-7938 3939, trailfinders.com). trailfinders.com

Los Angeles: £253

United Airlines from Heathrow. Must be booked by November 23. Valid for departures between January 5-February 28. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. ebookers (0870 8146024, ebookers.com).

Hong Kong: £397

KLM from Glasgow via Amsterdam. Must be booked by November 30. Valid for departures January 15-March 17. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Thomas Cook Flights Direct (08701 111111, thomascook.com). > Paris: £59.20

BMI from Heathrow. Must be booked online (£10 supplement if booked by phone). Valid for departures indefinitely. No minimum stay, maximum one year. BMI (flybmi.com, 0870 6070555).

Amsterdam: £94.80

British Airways from Manchester. Must be booked online (£15 supplement if booked by phone). Valid for departures indefinitely. No minimum stay, maximum one year. British Airways (ba.com, 0870 8509850).

The pick of the rest Auckland: £555

Cathay Pacific from Heathrow via Hong Kong. Must be booked by November 30. Valid for departures March 28-June 15. Minimum stay eight days, maximum one year. Travelbag (0870 8146544, travelbag.co.uk).

Funchal: £100.99

Britannia Airways charter from Manchester. Departs November 29 for seven nights. Thomson Flights (0800 000747, thomsonflights.co.uk).

São Paulo: £472

KLM from Heathrow, London City, Manchester or Birmingham via Amsterdam. Valid for departures January 15-March 17, Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Journey Latin America (020-8747 8315, journeylatinamerica.co.uk).

Venice: £64.40

BMI from Heathrow. Must be booked online (£10 supplement if booked by phone). Valid for departures indefinitely. No minimum stay, maximum one year. BMi (flybmi.com, 0870 6070555).

And the rail alternative Paris, Brussels: £59. Lille: £55

Eurostar from Waterloo or Ashford. Must be booked at least 21 days before departure. No advance booking required for Saturday or Sunday same day returns or trips including a Saturday night stay. Eurostar 08705 186186, eurostar.com).

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.