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Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The table below presents disclosures about the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in UAL's financial statements (in millions):
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,959

 
$
2,959

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,694

 
$
1,694

 
$

 
$

Short-term investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt
1,016

 

 
1,016

 

 
1,023

 

 
1,023

 

Asset-backed securities
706

 

 
706

 

 
746

 

 
746

 

U.S. government and agency notes
131

 

 
131

 

 
108

 

 
108

 

Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service ("CDARS")
42

 

 
42

 

 
75

 

 
75

 

Other fixed-income securities
80

 

 
80

 

 
116

 

 
116

 

Other investments measured at net asset value ("NAV")
192

 

 

 

 
188

 

 

 

Restricted cash
104

 
104

 

 

 
105

 
105

 

 

Long-term investments:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
322

 
322

 

 

 
249

 
249

 

 

AVH Derivative Assets (defined below)
6

 

 

 
6

 
11

 

 

 
11


Available-for-sale investment maturities - The short-term investments shown in the table above are classified as available-for-sale, with the exception of investments measured at NAV. As of September 30, 2019, asset-backed securities have remaining maturities of less than one year to approximately 15 years, corporate debt securities have remaining maturities of three years or less and CDARS have maturities of less than one year. U.S. government and agency notes have maturities of approximately three years or less and other fixed-income securities have maturities of two years or less.
Restricted cash - Restricted cash primarily includes collateral for letters of credit and collateral associated with facility leases and other insurance-related obligations.
Equity securities - Equity securities represent United's investment in Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A. ("Azul"), consisting of a preferred equity stake of approximately 8% (approximately 2% of the total capital stock of Azul). The Company recognizes changes to the fair market value of its equity investment in Azul in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in its statements of consolidated operations.
AVH Derivative Assets - As part of the BRW Loan Agreement and related agreements with Kingsland, United obtained AVH share call options, AVH share appreciation rights, and an AVH share-based upside sharing agreement (collectively, the "AVH Derivative Assets"). The AVH Derivative Assets are recorded at fair value as Other assets on the Company's balance sheet and are included in the table above. Changes in the fair value of the AVH Derivative Assets are recorded as part of Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net on the Company's statements of consolidated operations.
Investments presented in the table above have the same fair value as their carrying value. The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above (in millions):
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Long-term debt
$
14,143

 
$
14,832

 
$

 
$
11,131

 
$
3,701

 
$
13,445

 
$
13,450

 
$

 
$
9,525

 
$
3,925


Fair value of the financial instruments included in the tables above was determined as follows:
Description
Fair Value Methodology
Cash and cash equivalents
The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these assets.
Short-term investments,
Equity securities and
Restricted cash
Fair value is based on (a) the trading prices of the investment or similar instruments, (b) an income approach, which uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts into a single present amount based on current market expectations about those future amounts when observable trading prices are not available, or (c) broker quotes obtained by third-party valuation services.
Other investments measured at NAV
In accordance with the relevant accounting standards, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in the table above are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the statement of financial position. The investments measured using NAV are shares of mutual funds that invest in fixed-income instruments including bonds, debt securities, and other similar instruments issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. public- or private-sector entities. The Company can redeem its shares at any time at NAV subject to a three-day settlement period.
Long-term debt
Fair values were based on either market prices or the discounted amount of future cash flows using our current incremental rate of borrowing for similar liabilities or assets.
AVH Derivative Assets
Fair values are calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation approach. Unobservable inputs include expected volatility, expected dividend yield and control and acquisition premiums.