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REVENUE RECOGNITION
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
REVENUE RECOGNITION REVENUE RECOGNITION
Passenger Revenue
Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)20252024
Ticket$10,068 $9,833 
Loyalty travel awards940 844 
Travel-related services472 454 
Passenger revenue$11,480 $11,131 

Ticket

We recognized approximately $4.1 billion and $3.9 billion in passenger revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, that had been recorded in our air traffic liability balance at the beginning of those periods.

Loyalty Travel Awards

Loyalty travel awards revenue is related to the redemption of mileage credits ("miles") for air travel. Our SkyMiles loyalty program allows customers to earn miles by flying on Delta, Delta Connection and other airlines that participate in the loyalty program. Customers can also earn miles through participating companies, such as credit card, retail, ridesharing, car rental and hotel companies, who purchase miles from us. Our most significant contract to sell miles relates to our co-brand credit card relationship with American Express. During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, total cash sales from marketing agreements related to our loyalty program were $1.9 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, which are allocated to travel and other performance obligations.

Current Activity of the Loyalty Program. Miles are combined in one homogeneous pool and are not separately identifiable. Therefore, revenue is comprised of miles that were part of the loyalty program deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period as well as miles that were issued during the period. The timing of mile redemptions can vary widely; however, the majority of miles have historically been redeemed within two years of being earned.
The table below presents the activity of the current and noncurrent loyalty program deferred revenue and includes miles earned through travel and miles sold to participating companies, which are primarily through marketing agreements.

Loyalty program activity
(in millions)20252024
Balance at January 1$8,826 $8,420 
Miles earned1,152 1,021 
Miles redeemed for air travel(940)(844)
Miles redeemed for non-air travel and other(60)(56)
Balance at March 31
$8,978 $8,541 

Travel-Related Services

Travel-related services are primarily composed of services performed in conjunction with a passenger’s flight and include baggage fees, administrative fees and on-board sales. We recognize revenue for these services when the related transportation service is provided.

Other Revenue
Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)20252024
Refinery$1,062 $1,185 
Loyalty program807 795 
Ancillary businesses189 180 
Miscellaneous294 279 
Other revenue$2,352 $2,439 

Revenue by Geographic Region

Operating revenue for the airline segment is recognized in a specific geographic region based on the origin, flight path and destination of each flight segment. A significant portion of the refinery segment's revenues typically consists of fuel sales to support the airline, which is eliminated in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The remaining operating revenue for the refinery segment is included in the domestic region. Our passenger and operating revenue by geographic region is summarized in the following tables:

Passenger revenue by geographic region
Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)20252024
Domestic$8,101 $7,983 
Atlantic1,372 1,305 
Latin America1,334 1,265 
Pacific673 578 
Total$11,480 $11,131 

Operating revenue by geographic region
Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)20252024
Domestic$10,055 $10,031 
Atlantic1,646 1,581 
Latin America1,523 1,442 
Pacific816 694 
Total$14,040 $13,748