Revenue Recognition (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Schedule of disaggregation of revenue

Passenger revenue is primarily composed of passenger ticket sales, loyalty travel awards and travel-related services performed in conjunction with a passenger’s flight.

Passenger revenue by category	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2020		2019		2018
Ticket	$	10,970	$	36,908	$	34,950
Loyalty travel awards	935		2,900		2,651
Travel-related services	978		2,469		2,154
Total passenger revenue	$	12,883	$	42,277	$	39,755

Other Revenue

	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2020		2019		2018
Ancillary businesses and refinery	$	1,798	$	1,297	$	1,801
Loyalty program	1,458		1,962		1,459
Miscellaneous	348		718		558
Total other revenue	$	3,604	$	3,977	$	3,818

Schedule loyalty program activity

The table below presents the activity of the current and noncurrent loyalty program deferred revenue, and includes miles earned through travel and miles sold to participating companies, which are primarily through marketing agreements.

Loyalty program activity
(in millions)	2020		2019		2018
Balance at January 1	$	6,728	$	6,641	$	6,321
Miles earned	1,437		3,156		3,142
Travel miles redeemed	(935)		(2,900)		(2,651)
Non-travel miles redeemed	(48)		(169)		(171)
Balance at December 31	$	7,182	$	6,728	$	6,641

Schedule of revenue by geographic region

Operating revenue for the airline segment is recognized in a specific geographic region based on the origin, flight path and destination of each flight segment. A significant portion of the refinery's revenues typically consists of fuel sales to support the airline, which is eliminated in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The remaining operating revenue for the refinery segment is included in the domestic region. Our passenger and operating revenue by geographic region is summarized in the following table:

Revenue by geographic region	Passenger Revenue						Operating Revenue
	Year Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2020		2019		2018		2020		2019		2018
Domestic	$	10,041	$	30,465	$	28,235	$	13,339	$	33,382	$	31,309
Atlantic	1,171		6,326		6,135		1,649		7,308		7,012
Latin America	1,113		2,985		2,864		1,321		3,326		3,157
Pacific	558		2,501		2,521		786		2,991		2,960
Total	$	12,883	$	42,277	$	39,755	$	17,095	$	47,007	$	44,438