Six top destinations

Los Angeles: £265

Delta Airlines from Gatwick via Atlanta. Must be booked by January 9. Valid for departures until March 31. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Travelbag (0870 8901459).

New York: £199

British Airways from Heathrow. Must be booked by January 27. Valid for departures January 5-March 26, then April 9-30. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one year. British Airways (0870 8509850).

Sydney: £593

Japan Airlines from Heathrow via Tokyo. Must be booked by January 19. Valid for departures April 1-June 30. No minimum stay, maximum one year. Bridge the World (0870 4441716).

Hong Kong: £299

Cathay Pacific from Heathrow. Must be booked by February 22. Valid for each of two people travelling together on Monday-Wednesday departures, February 1-March 20. Minimum stay three nights, maximum three months. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).

Amsterdam: £49

Basiq Air from Stansted. Must be booked online (€10 extra if booked by phone, 020-7365 4997). Basiq Air.

Paris: £86.20

British Airways from Manchester. Must be booked online (£15 extra if booked by phone, 0870 8509850). Valid for certain departures indefinitely. British Airways.

The pick of the rest

Auckland: £519

Air New Zealand from Heathrow via Los Angeles. Must be booked by Monday. Valid for departures April 16-June 15. Minimum stay seven days, maximum six months. Quest Travel (0870 4423513).

Mexico City: £439

KLM from Heathrow via Amsterdam. Valid for departures until April 1. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Journey Latin America (020-8747 3108).

Budapest £113.50

Malev Hungarian Airlines from Heathrow. Valid until February 29. Malev Hungarian Airlines (0870 9090577).

San Francisco: £243

Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow. Must be booked by January 5. Valid for departures until March 11. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).

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).

· 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.