Six top destinations

New York: £219

Air India from Heathrow to JFK or Newark airports. Valid for departures January 1-March 31. No minimum stay, maximum 60 days. Quest Travel, 0870 4423513.

Los Angeles: £254

Northwest Airlines from Gatwick via Detroit. Must be booked by October 14. Full payment required when booking. Valid for departures January 10-March 3. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month.Airline Network, 0870 2349915

Amsterdam: £59.20

BMI British Midland from Heathrow. Must be booked online (£5 extra if booked by phone 0870 6070555). Valid for departures indefinitely. No minimum stay, maximum one year. BMI British Midland

Paris: £59

British Airways from Birmingham. Must be booked online (£10 extra if booked by phone 0870 8509850) and at least 30 days before travel. Valid for departures indefinitely. British Airways

Hong Kong: £375

Gulf Air from Heathrow via Abu Dhabi, Bahrain or Muscat. Must be booked by October 31. Valid for departures January 20-March 31. No minimum stay, maximum 30 days. Bridge the World, 0870 4441716

Sydney: £563

Asiana Airlines from Heathrow via Seoul. Must be booked by October 31. Valid for departures November 1-December 9. Minimum stay four days, maximum one year. Trailfinders, 020-7938 3939

The pick of the rest

Quito: £551

Iberia from Heathrow or Manchester via Madrid and Caracas. Must be booked by October 21. Valid for departures until November 30. Minimum stay seven days, maximum one month. Journey Latin America, 020-8747 3108

Johannesburg: £389

Emirates from Gatwick, Manchester or Birmingham via Dubai. Valid for departures September 1-December 9. Minimum stay seven days, maximum two months. Quest Travel, 0870 4423513

Minorca: £49

Monarch Airlines charter from Gatwick. Departs October 17 for seven nights. Avro, 0870 4582847

Bangkok: £359

Gulf Air from Heathrow via Abu Dhabi, Bahrain or Muscat. Must be booked by October 31. Valid for departures January 20-March 31. No minimum stay, maximum 30 days. Bridge the World, 0870 4441716

And the rail alternative

Paris/Brussels: £59. Lille: £55

Eurostar from Waterloo or Ashford. Must be booked at least 21 days before departure, but no advance booking required if trip includes a Saturday night away or for same-day returns on Saturdays or Sundays. 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.