Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Provision (Benefit) Differed from Amounts Computed at the Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate and Significant Components

The income tax provision (benefit) differed from amounts computed at the statutory federal income tax rate and consisted of the following significant components, as follows (in millions):

UAL	2018			2017 (a)			2016 (a)
Income tax provision at statutory rate	$	558		$	1,064		$	1,320
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	29			30			38
Foreign tax rate differential	(84		)	(43		)	—
Global intangible low-taxed income	4			—			—
Foreign income taxes	2			3			3
Nondeductible employee meals	12			17			16
Impact of Tax Act	(5		)	(179		)	—
Income tax adjustment from AOCI (b)	—			—			180
State rate change	3			12			(12		)
Valuation allowance	(3		)	(16		)	20
Other, net	13			8			(26		)
	$	529		$	896		$	1,539
Current	$	14		$	(77	)	$	(92	)
Deferred	515			973			1,631
	$	529		$	896		$	1,539
United	2018			2017 (a)			2016 (a)
Income tax provision at statutory rate	$	559		$	1,065		$	1,321
State income taxes, net of federal income tax	29			30			38
Foreign tax rate differential	(84		)	(43		)	—
Global intangible low-taxed income	4			—			—
Foreign income taxes	2			3			3
Nondeductible employee meals	12			17			16
Impact of Tax Act	(5		)	(196		)	—
Income tax adjustment from AOCI (b)	—			—			180
State rate change	3			12			(12		)
Valuation allowance	(3		)	(16		)	20
Other, net	12			7			(25		)
	$	529		$	879		$	1,541
Current	$	14		$	(77	)	$	(92	)
Deferred	515			956			1,633
	$	529		$	879		$	1,541

(a) Amounts adjusted due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). See Note 1 to the financial statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information.

(b) Prior to the release of the deferred income tax valuation allowance in the third quarter of 2015, the Company recorded approximately $465 million of valuation allowance adjustments in AOCI. Subsequent to the release of the deferred income tax valuation allowance in 2015, the $465 million debit remained within AOCI, of which $180 million related to losses on fuel hedges designated for hedge accounting and $285 million related to pension and other postretirement liabilities. Accounting rules required the adjustments to remain in AOCI as long as the Company had fuel derivatives designated for cash flow hedge accounting and the Company continues to provide pension and postretirement benefits. In 2016, the Company settled all of its fuel hedges and has not entered into any new fuel derivative contracts for hedge accounting. Accordingly, the Company reclassified the $180 million to income tax expense in 2016.

Temporary Differences and Carryforwards Giving Rise to Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in millions):

	UAL						United
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Deferred income tax asset (liability):
Federal and state net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards	$	398		$	601		$	372		$	574
Deferred revenue	1,232			1,090			1,232			1,090
Employee benefits, including pension, postretirement and medical	885			1,051			885			1,051
Other	408			351			406			351
Less: Valuation allowance	(59		)	(63		)	(59		)	(63		)
Total deferred tax assets	$	2,864		$	3,030		$	2,836		$	3,003
Depreciation	$	(2,929	)	$	(2,431	)	$	(2,929	)	$	(2,431	)
Intangibles	(749		)	(803		)	(749		)	(803		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(3,678	)	$	(3,234	)	$	(3,678	)	$	(3,234	)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(814	)	$	(204	)	$	(842	)	$	(231	)