Income Taxes (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 9. INCOME TAXES

We recorded an income tax benefit of $77 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, primarily related to the recognition of alternative minimum tax refunds received for 2008 and 2009.

We consider all income sources, including other comprehensive income, in determining the amount of tax benefit allocated to continuing operations (the “Income Tax Allocation”). For the year ended December 31, 2009, as a result of the Income Tax Allocation, we recorded a non-cash income tax benefit of $321 million on the loss from continuing operations, with an offsetting non-cash income tax expense of $321 million on other comprehensive income. The deferred income tax expense will remain in accumulated other comprehensive loss until all amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss that relate to fuel derivatives which were designated as accounting hedges are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.