New gate will help prevent chickens from invading the airport

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25: Government announced this week it was installing a new security gate for the main entrance to the LF Wade International Airport.

The gate is not expected to be installed until 2012 and its stated aim is to prevent illegal dumping in the eastern overflow car park area when the nearby landfill site is closed.

It’s also expected to reduce vehicle vandalism and cycle theft that occurs from time to time.

The gate is expected to be open from 5am daily until the last passengers from the evening flight have departed the airport.

Government says it will also help reduce the number of feral chickens and cats that “pose a real threat to aircraft operations whenever they succeed in breaching the fence line.”

While I can’t picture ninja-clad cats using wire cutters to sneak onto the tarmac, on my last trip out of here in October I did see a cat near the oil tanks.

Air Canada deal

You can earn double Aeroplan miles on all round trips to and from Bermuda on Air Canada in executive class.

You’ll have to register on the Aeroplan website (www.aeroplan.com) rather than the Air Canada site.

The promotion is good for all trips until December 15 and you could use it to travel to destinations such as Mexico, Cuba and Aruba. See the website for the full list.

You can also use the promotion for flights from Toronto to London on Tango (economy) Plus. The promo is good for 5,000 extra Aeroplan miles and also expires on December 15.

If you fly Executive Class on the London flights you’ll get 25,000 bonus Aeroplan miles.

Grand Slam bonus miles

The US Airways Grand Slam promotion ended last week and I picked up 15,000 extra miles without taking a flight. When the last miles are deposited into my account, I’ll have enough for a free flight from Bermuda.

I had wanted to get at least 25,000 miles, but life intervened and side-tracked me.

I did spend some money to get them, but nothing I wouldn’t have spent anyway so it was a good deal.

The Grand Slam deal will probably be back next year September.

Cruising to victory

The Veendam may be leaving Bermuda after next year, but Holland America Line picked up several awards in Porthole Cruising Magazine’s Reader Choice Awards.

They won for: Best Medium-Sized Ship for Nieuw Amsterdam; Best Private Island for Half Moon Cay; Best Alaska Itineraries;Best Central America Itineraries;Best Canada/New England Itineraries; Best Shore Excursions;Best Computer Facilities; Best Medical Facilities and Best Facilities for Physically Challenged Passengers.

Delta Air Lines offer

Atlanta-based Delta Airlines is offering 1,250 SkyMiles by staying any two consecutive nights at any La Quinta Inns & Suites. The deal is good until December 31. The URL for it is http://bit.ly/umua8s.