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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries, and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") for interim financial information. Consistent with these requirements, this Form 10-Q does not include all the information required by GAAP for complete financial statements. As a result, this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Management believes the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, including normal recurring items, considered necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods presented. Due to seasonal variations in the demand for air travel, the volatility of aircraft fuel prices and other factors, operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the entire year. We reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts disclosed are stated before consideration of income taxes.
Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Equivalents | Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents generally consist of money market funds. Restricted cash equivalents generally consist of money market funds, time deposits, commercial paper and negotiable certificates of deposit, which primarily relate to certain self-insurance obligations and airport commitments. Restricted cash equivalents are recorded in prepaid expenses and other on our balance sheet. The fair value of these cash equivalents is based on a market approach using prices generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets.
Short-Term and Long-Term Investments | Short-Term Investments. The fair values of our short-term investments are based on a market approach using industry standard valuation techniques that incorporate observable inputs such as quoted market prices, interest rates, benchmark curves, credit ratings of the security and other observable information.Long-Term Investments and Related. Our long-term investments measured at fair value primarily consist of equity investments, which are valued based on market prices or other observable transactions and inputs, and are recorded in equity investments on our balance sheet. Our equity investments in private companies are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as their equity is not traded on a public exchange and our valuations incorporate certain unobservable inputs, including non-public equity issuances. As of September 30, 2023 our equity investment in Wheels Up Experience Inc. ("Wheels Up") is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. In prior periods, this investment was classified as Level 1. We determined the quoted price of its publicly-traded shares does not represent fair value after the closing of Wheels Up's $500 million credit facility on September 20, 2023. In addition to the quoted price, the valuation of our equity investment in Wheels Up considered certain unobservable inputs, including Wheels Up's financial projections, using both market and income approach valuation techniques. Fair value measurement using unobservable inputs is inherently uncertain, and a change in significant inputs could result in different fair values. See Note 4, "Investments," for further information on the transaction with Wheels Up and our other equity investments.
Fuel Hedge Contracts | Fuel Hedge Contracts. Our derivative contracts to hedge the financial risk from changing fuel prices are primarily related to inventory at our wholly-owned subsidiary, Monroe Energy, LLC ("Monroe"). Our fuel hedge portfolio may consist of a combination of options, swaps or futures contracts, most of which have a duration of less than three months. Option and swap contracts are valued under income approaches using option pricing models and discounted cash flow models, respectively, based on data either readily observable in public markets, derived from public markets or provided by counterparties who regularly trade in public markets. Futures contracts and options on futures contracts are traded on a public exchange and valued based on quoted market prices.
Fair Value Investments | Fair Value Investments. Changes in the valuation of investments accounted for at fair value are recorded in gain/(loss) on investments, net in our income statement within non-operating expense and are driven by changes in stock prices, foreign currency fluctuations and other valuation techniques for investments in certain companies, particularly those without publicly-traded shares.
Equity Method Investments | Equity Method Investments. We record our share of our equity method investees' financial results in our income statement

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- Definition Entity's cash and cash equivalents accounting policy with respect to restricted balances. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(1)(a)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479853/942-210-S99-1 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482913/230-10-50-1 + Details
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