October 3, 2026 — American Airlines (AA) has set dates to end the catering workaround that has dogged its London Heathrow flights since March. It is also adding a cash-and-miles payment option for AAdvantage members, and is reported to be weighing Starlink Wi-Fi for its Boeing fleet.
Heathrow catering: the end dates
American switched its London caterer to DO & CO in March 2026. Since then it has been “double provisioning”: loading the meals for the return flight in the United States and carrying them across the Atlantic. That crowded galleys built to hold one flight’s worth of catering and led to service cuts and missing pre-ordered meals.
View from the Wing, citing an internal American update shared by the aviation insider JonNYC, reports the workaround ends in two steps.
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| October 13–14, 2026 | Boeing 787-9P flights stop double provisioning |
| October 27–28, 2026 | The rest of the Heathrow operation moves to single provisioning; DO & CO caters all London departures |
The bottleneck was catering trucks. American and DO & CO have lined up 12 more, five already on hand and seven on the way, for a total of 17. DO & CO coordinators will stay on board every aircraft at Heathrow before departure to check the load. Beer, liquor and premium wines will still be loaded in the US for both directions.
Cash and miles at checkout
American announced that AAdvantage members will be able to split a fare between cash and miles. A slider at checkout sets the mix. The feature rolls out over the coming weeks on aa.com and in the app, starting with US members booking domestic flights, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. A date for other routes: TBA.
The cash portion earns miles and Loyalty Points. American does not disclose how it values the miles and says the share of a fare that miles can cover will vary by itinerary.
Starlink on Boeing aircraft: reported, not confirmed
American has announced Starlink for more than 500 Airbus narrowbodies, starting in the first quarter of 2027. JonNYC now reports the plan may extend to the Boeing 737, 777 and 787 fleets. American has not confirmed that. Timing for any Boeing installation: TBA.
What it means for non-revs
- London flights get back to normal service. From October 28, Heathrow departures should be catered locally and in full. If you are non-revving home from London before then, expect the reduced service that has been in place since March.
- For crew working Heathrow trips, the galley squeeze ends by aircraft type: 787-9P first in mid-October, everything else two weeks later.
- Cash and miles does not touch pass travel. It is a revenue booking tool. It gives members one more way to spend miles on paid seats, starting with domestic flights. American has published nothing that links it to loads or standby priority.
- Starlink is one to watch. If the Boeing report is confirmed, fast free Wi-Fi would reach the long-haul 777 and 787 fleets non-revs ride most on international trips. Until American says so, treat it as a rumor.
Sources
- View from the Wing — American Airlines Has Solved Its London Catering Mess—And Keeping Staff To Check Food For Every Plane
- View from the Wing — American Airlines Adds Cash And Miles Bookings—But Won’t Say What Your Miles Are Worth
- PYMNTS — American Airlines Lets Loyalty Program Members Combine Cash and Miles
- View from the Wing — Report: American Airlines Expands Starlink Plans To Full Boeing Fleet—Could It Become More Premium Than Delta?
- Aviation A2Z — American Airlines Could Bring Starlink to Boeing 737, 777 and 787 Jets
