Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

The following table shows our property and equipment:



		December 31,
(in millions, except for estimated useful life)	Estimated Useful Life	2012			2011
Flight equipment	21-30 years	$	21,481		$	21,001
Ground property and equipment	3-40 years	4,254			3,490
Flight and ground equipment under capital leases	Shorter of lease term or estimated useful life	1,381			1,127
Advance payments for equipment		253			77
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization⁽¹⁾		(6,656		)	(5,472		)
Total property and equipment, net		$	20,713		$	20,223

⁽¹⁾ Includes accumulated amortization for flight and ground equipment under capital leases in the amount of $653 million and $482 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the useful life and salvage value of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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