Six top destinations

New York: £187

American Airlines from Heathrow. Book by October 26. Valid for departures January 8-March 20. Full payment required when booking. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Airline Network, 0870 2349915

Sydney: £538

Asiana Airlines from Heathrow via Seoul (overnight stop in Seoul on return flight). Book by October 31. Valid for departures November 1-December 9. Minimum stay four days, maximum one year.Airline Warehouse, 0870 7707339

Los Angeles: £259

Northwest Airlines from Gatwick via Minneapolis. Book by November 4. Valid for departures November 1-December 14. Minimum stay one Saturday night or six days, maximum one month. Trailfinders, 020-7937 5400

Hong Kong: £415

Swiss International from Heathrow via Zurich. Book by October 31. Valid for departures until December 5. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Airline Networkl, 0870 2349912

Amsterdam: £59.60

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.

The pick of the rest

Boston: £178

Finnair from Heathrow via Reykjavik. Book by October 31. Valid for departures November 1-December 10. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Bridge the World, 0870 4441716

Shanghai: £349

Qatar Airways from Heathrow or Manchester via Doha. Valid for departures until December 10, then January 1-February 28. Minimum stay six days, maximum three months. Airline Warehouse, 0870 7707339

Johannesburg: £389

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

Nice: £55.90

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

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 if trips include 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.