Six top destinations: Paris: £89

British Airways from Manchester. Must be booked online (£10 supplement if booked by phone, 0845 7733377). Valid for departures indefinitely. British Airways.

Amsterdam: £62.60

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

Sydney: £572

Olympic Airways from Heathrow via Athens. Valid for departures December 25-March 31. No minimum stay, maximum one year. Thomas Cook Flights Direct (0870 7520066).

Hong Kong: £399

Emirates from Gatwick via Dubai. Valid for departures until October 31. Minimum stay seven nights, maximum two months. Bridge the World (0870 4441716).

Los Angeles: £316

Aer Lingus from Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glas gow, Heathrow, Gatwick and London City via Dublin. Valid for departures October 1-December 14. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum 90 days. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).

New York: £214

British Airways from Manchester. Must be booked by October 31. Valid for departures November. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Quest Travel (0870 4423513).

The pick of the rest: Madrid: £109

British Airways CitiExpress from Manchester. Must be booked online (£10 supplement if booked by phone, 0845 7733377). Valid for departures indefinitely. British Airways.

Toulouse: £98

Flybe from Birmingham. Must be booked online. Valid for departures indefinitely. No minimum or maximum stay restrictions. Flybe.

Orlando: £272

Northwest Airlines from Gatwick via Detroit or Minneapolis. Must be booked by September 15. Full payment required when booking. Valid for departures until December 18. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Airline Network (0800 727747).

Mahon: £79

Monarch Airlines charter from Gatwick. Departs September 16 for seven nights. Avro (0870 0360116).

And the rail alternative: Paris/Brussels: £79. Lille £69

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