Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The following table presents information about the Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets at December 31 (in millions):

			2017				2016
Item	Asset life (a)		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Goodwill			$	4,523			$	4,523
Finite-lived intangible assets
Frequent flyer database (b)		22	$	1,177	$	832	$	1,177	$	771
Hubs		20		145		89		145		82
Contracts		13		121		103		135		95
Patents and tradenames		3		108		108		108		108
Airport slots and gates		8		97		97		97		97
Other		25		109		84		109		81
Total			$	1,757	$	1,313	$	1,771	$	1,234
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Route authorities			$	1,562			$	1,562
Airport slots and gates				536				536
Tradenames and logos				593				593
Alliances				404				404
Total			$	3,095			$	3,095

(a) Weighted average life expressed in years.

(b) The frequent flyer database is amortized based on an accelerated amortization schedule to reflect utilization of the assets. Estimated cash flows correlating to the expected attrition rate of customers in the frequent flyer database is considered in the determination of the amortization schedules.