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Related Party Transactions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Related Party Transactions

NOTE 11—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Intercompany transactions—United and Continental

United and Continental perform services for one another including various aircraft maintenance services and aircraft ground handling at certain airports, and they utilize one management team to oversee the sales and administrative functions of both airlines. For services provided, Continental paid United $120 million and United paid Continental $86 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. These payments do not include interline billings, which are common among airlines for transportation-related services. Most of these transactions are routinely settled through the clearing house, which is customarily used in the monthly settlement of such items. Transactions not settled through the clearing house are typically settled in cash on a quarterly basis. As of March 31, 2012, Continental had a net current payable of $1.5 billion to United primarily related to the transfer of the current portion of the frequent flyer liability and the cash transfer from United in conjunction with the conversion to the new passenger service system, as described below. In addition, Continental had a $1.3 billion noncurrent payable to United associated with the transfer of the long-term portion of the frequent flyer liability.

Frequent flyer program transition

In the first quarter of 2012, the Company moved to a single loyalty program. Continental's loyalty program formally ended in the first quarter of 2012, at which point United automatically enrolled OnePass members in MileagePlus and deposited into those MileagePlus accounts award miles equal to these members' OnePass award miles balance. In March 2012, the related frequent flyer deferred revenue and advance purchase of miles liabilities for Continental's OnePass program was transferred to United with a corresponding liability recorded by Continental payable to United for assuming the frequent flyer obligations. No gain or loss was incurred from the transaction as the liabilities were transferred at their respective net book value. The obligation associated with this transfer will be settled by Continental through future redemptions by MileagePlus members on Continental operated flights. The Company currently does not expect a material impact in redemptions from moving to a single loyalty program.

Passenger service system and ticket stock integration

In March 2012, Continental and United converted to a single passenger service system, allowing the Company to operate using a single reservations system, carrier code, flight schedule, website and departure control system. In conjunction with the conversion to a single passenger service system, all tickets are now sold by United. As a result, the air traffic liability of Continental will diminish as tickets previously sold by Continental are used or refunded and United's advanced ticket sales liability and associated cash receipts from the ticket sales will increase accordingly. Given the system conversion, United transferred $1 billion in cash to Continental in March 2012 as an advance against future settlements when passengers travel. Revenue will continue to be recorded by the carrier that is operating the flight.

Revenue and expense allocation

In November 2011, the Company received a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. The Company plans to merge Continental and United into one legal entity. Once this legal merger occurs, the financial statements of United and Continental will be combined for all periods presented from the date of the merger at their historical cost, and there will no longer be a requirement to separately report the historical financial statements of Continental.

Until Continental and United are merged into one legal entity, revenue and expenses will continue to be recorded by each entity based on either specific identification of the related transaction, where applicable, or appropriate allocations based on metrics that are systematic and rational. Certain revenues and expenses that were previously recorded based on a specific identification were allocated in March 2012 in connection with the conversion to a single passenger service system. We believe the allocated amounts will generally be comparable to historical amounts. Each airline will continue to record actual expenses for aircraft that are owned or leased and passenger revenue will be determined on an actual basis for the carrier operating the flight. The table below illustrates a summary of the primary allocation metrics to be used:

 

United Airlines Inc [Member]
 
Related Party Transactions

NOTE 11—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Intercompany transactions—United and Continental

United and Continental perform services for one another including various aircraft maintenance services and aircraft ground handling at certain airports, and they utilize one management team to oversee the sales and administrative functions of both airlines. For services provided, Continental paid United $120 million and United paid Continental $86 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. These payments do not include interline billings, which are common among airlines for transportation-related services. Most of these transactions are routinely settled through the clearing house, which is customarily used in the monthly settlement of such items. Transactions not settled through the clearing house are typically settled in cash on a quarterly basis. As of March 31, 2012, Continental had a net current payable of $1.5 billion to United primarily related to the transfer of the current portion of the frequent flyer liability and the cash transfer from United in conjunction with the conversion to the new passenger service system, as described below. In addition, Continental had a $1.3 billion noncurrent payable to United associated with the transfer of the long-term portion of the frequent flyer liability.

Frequent flyer program transition

In the first quarter of 2012, the Company moved to a single loyalty program. Continental's loyalty program formally ended in the first quarter of 2012, at which point United automatically enrolled OnePass members in MileagePlus and deposited into those MileagePlus accounts award miles equal to these members' OnePass award miles balance. In March 2012, the related frequent flyer deferred revenue and advance purchase of miles liabilities for Continental's OnePass program was transferred to United with a corresponding liability recorded by Continental payable to United for assuming the frequent flyer obligations. No gain or loss was incurred from the transaction as the liabilities were transferred at their respective net book value. The obligation associated with this transfer will be settled by Continental through future redemptions by MileagePlus members on Continental operated flights. The Company currently does not expect a material impact in redemptions from moving to a single loyalty program.

Passenger service system and ticket stock integration

In March 2012, Continental and United converted to a single passenger service system, allowing the Company to operate using a single reservations system, carrier code, flight schedule, website and departure control system. In conjunction with the conversion to a single passenger service system, all tickets are now sold by United. As a result, the air traffic liability of Continental will diminish as tickets previously sold by Continental are used or refunded and United's advanced ticket sales liability and associated cash receipts from the ticket sales will increase accordingly. Given the system conversion, United transferred $1 billion in cash to Continental in March 2012 as an advance against future settlements when passengers travel. Revenue will continue to be recorded by the carrier that is operating the flight.

Revenue and expense allocation

In November 2011, the Company received a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. The Company plans to merge Continental and United into one legal entity. Once this legal merger occurs, the financial statements of United and Continental will be combined for all periods presented from the date of the merger at their historical cost, and there will no longer be a requirement to separately report the historical financial statements of Continental.

Until Continental and United are merged into one legal entity, revenue and expenses will continue to be recorded by each entity based on either specific identification of the related transaction, where applicable, or appropriate allocations based on metrics that are systematic and rational. Certain revenues and expenses that were previously recorded based on a specific identification were allocated in March 2012 in connection with the conversion to a single passenger service system. We believe the allocated amounts will generally be comparable to historical amounts. Each airline will continue to record actual expenses for aircraft that are owned or leased and passenger revenue will be determined on an actual basis for the carrier operating the flight. The table below illustrates a summary of the primary allocation metrics to be used:

 

Account

  

Allocation metric between subsidiaries

Operating revenue:

  

Passenger

   Actual ticket revenue based on specifically identified flights operated by each carrier. Frequent flyer component of passenger revenue based on historic revenue passenger miles ("RPMs") split between carriers. Regional revenue, based on the carrier that contracted with the regional carrier

Cargo

   Actual by operating carrier

Other operating

   Passenger related based on passenger revenue and other based on passengers enplaned or other similar criteria

Operating expense:

  

Aircraft fuel

   Actual by operating carrier

Salaries and related costs

   Actual for operational workgroups and allocation based on historical RPMs for administrative personnel

Regional capacity purchase

   Actual based on specific identification of the carrier that contracted with regional carrier for flying

Landing fees and other rent

   Allocation based on passengers enplaned

Aircraft maintenance materials

and outside repairs

   Actual based on the aircraft maintained

Depreciation and amortization

   Specific identification of carriers' operational assets (i.e. flight equipment) and intangible assets and allocation based on historical RPMs for other assets

Distribution expenses

   Allocation based on passenger revenue

Aircraft rent

   Actual based on specific identification of each carrier's aircraft

Special charges

   Specific identification

Other operating expenses

   Specific identification where applicable and allocation based on historical RPMs for other
Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
 
Related Party Transactions

NOTE 11—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Intercompany transactions—United and Continental

United and Continental perform services for one another including various aircraft maintenance services and aircraft ground handling at certain airports, and they utilize one management team to oversee the sales and administrative functions of both airlines. For services provided, Continental paid United $120 million and United paid Continental $86 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. These payments do not include interline billings, which are common among airlines for transportation-related services. Most of these transactions are routinely settled through the clearing house, which is customarily used in the monthly settlement of such items. Transactions not settled through the clearing house are typically settled in cash on a quarterly basis. As of March 31, 2012, Continental had a net current payable of $1.5 billion to United primarily related to the transfer of the current portion of the frequent flyer liability and the cash transfer from United in conjunction with the conversion to the new passenger service system, as described below. In addition, Continental had a $1.3 billion noncurrent payable to United associated with the transfer of the long-term portion of the frequent flyer liability.

Frequent flyer program transition

In the first quarter of 2012, the Company moved to a single loyalty program. Continental's loyalty program formally ended in the first quarter of 2012, at which point United automatically enrolled OnePass members in MileagePlus and deposited into those MileagePlus accounts award miles equal to these members' OnePass award miles balance. In March 2012, the related frequent flyer deferred revenue and advance purchase of miles liabilities for Continental's OnePass program was transferred to United with a corresponding liability recorded by Continental payable to United for assuming the frequent flyer obligations. No gain or loss was incurred from the transaction as the liabilities were transferred at their respective net book value. The obligation associated with this transfer will be settled by Continental through future redemptions by MileagePlus members on Continental operated flights. The Company currently does not expect a material impact in redemptions from moving to a single loyalty program.

Passenger service system and ticket stock integration

In March 2012, Continental and United converted to a single passenger service system, allowing the Company to operate using a single reservations system, carrier code, flight schedule, website and departure control system. In conjunction with the conversion to a single passenger service system, all tickets are now sold by United. As a result, the air traffic liability of Continental will diminish as tickets previously sold by Continental are used or refunded and United's advanced ticket sales liability and associated cash receipts from the ticket sales will increase accordingly. Given the system conversion, United transferred $1 billion in cash to Continental in March 2012 as an advance against future settlements when passengers travel. Revenue will continue to be recorded by the carrier that is operating the flight.

Revenue and expense allocation

In November 2011, the Company received a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. The Company plans to merge Continental and United into one legal entity. Once this legal merger occurs, the financial statements of United and Continental will be combined for all periods presented from the date of the merger at their historical cost, and there will no longer be a requirement to separately report the historical financial statements of Continental.

Until Continental and United are merged into one legal entity, revenue and expenses will continue to be recorded by each entity based on either specific identification of the related transaction, where applicable, or appropriate allocations based on metrics that are systematic and rational. Certain revenues and expenses that were previously recorded based on a specific identification were allocated in March 2012 in connection with the conversion to a single passenger service system. We believe the allocated amounts will generally be comparable to historical amounts. Each airline will continue to record actual expenses for aircraft that are owned or leased and passenger revenue will be determined on an actual basis for the carrier operating the flight. The table below illustrates a summary of the primary allocation metrics to be used:

 

Account

  

Allocation metric between subsidiaries

Operating revenue:

  

Passenger

   Actual ticket revenue based on specifically identified flights operated by each carrier. Frequent flyer component of passenger revenue based on historic revenue passenger miles ("RPMs") split between carriers. Regional revenue, based on the carrier that contracted with the regional carrier

Cargo

   Actual by operating carrier

Other operating

   Passenger related based on passenger revenue and other based on passengers enplaned or other similar criteria

Operating expense:

  

Aircraft fuel

   Actual by operating carrier

Salaries and related costs

   Actual for operational workgroups and allocation based on historical RPMs for administrative personnel

Regional capacity purchase

   Actual based on specific identification of the carrier that contracted with regional carrier for flying

Landing fees and other rent

   Allocation based on passengers enplaned

Aircraft maintenance materials

and outside repairs

   Actual based on the aircraft maintained

Depreciation and amortization

   Specific identification of carriers' operational assets (i.e. flight equipment) and intangible assets and allocation based on historical RPMs for other assets

Distribution expenses

   Allocation based on passenger revenue

Aircraft rent

   Actual based on specific identification of each carrier's aircraft

Special charges

   Specific identification

Other operating expenses

   Specific identification where applicable and allocation based on historical RPMs for other