Employee Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The following table shows the components of net periodic cost:

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits
(in millions)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Three Months Ended September 30
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	14		$	13
Interest cost	232			242			41			45
Expected return on plan assets	(176		)	(181		)	(19		)	(22		)
Amortization of prior service benefit	—			—			(7		)	(1		)
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)	36			14			6			(3		)
Special termination benefits	—			—			6			—
Net periodic cost	$	92		$	75		$	41		$	32
Nine Months Ended September 30
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	43		$	39
Interest cost	696			726			123			135
Expected return on plan assets	(528		)	(543		)	(57		)	(67		)
Amortization of prior service benefit	—			—			(16		)	(2		)
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)	108			42			18			(9		)
Special termination benefits	—			—			110			—
Net periodic cost	$	276		$	225		$	221		$	96

During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we remeasured our postretirement healthcare obligation to account for changes to retiree medical benefits resulting from the final integration of wages and benefits following our merger with Northwest Airlines and the voluntary workforce reduction programs offered to eligible employees. As a result, we recorded $110 million of special termination benefits in restructuring and other items (see Note 7).