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REVENUE RECOGNITION
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
REVENUE RECOGNITION REVENUE RECOGNITION
Passenger Revenue
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2025202420252024
Ticket$11,859 $11,645 $34,173 $33,827 
Loyalty travel awards1,108 978 3,140 2,798 
Travel-related services539 484 1,539 1,454 
Passenger revenue$13,506 $13,107 $38,852 $38,079 

Ticket

We recognized approximately $6.2 billion in passenger revenue during both the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, 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 nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, total cash sales from marketing agreements related to our loyalty program were $6.0 billion and $5.5 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 earned3,605 3,303 
Miles redeemed for air travel(3,140)(2,798)
Miles redeemed for non-air travel and other(169)(173)
Balance at September 30
$9,122 $8,752 

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 September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2025202420252024
Refinery$1,476 $1,083 $3,680 $3,520 
Loyalty program847 820 2,509 2,451 
Ancillary businesses256 161 710 554 
Miscellaneous355 310 956 906 
Other revenue$2,934 $2,374 $7,855 $7,431 
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 September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2025202420252024
Domestic$9,103 $8,652 $26,521 $26,033 
Atlantic2,977 3,029 7,221 7,159 
Latin America759 779 3,047 3,008 
Pacific667 647 2,063 1,879 
Total$13,506 $13,107 $38,852 $38,079 

Operating revenue by geographic region
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2025202420252024
Domestic$11,561 $10,609 $33,032 $32,216 
Atlantic3,423 3,418 8,353 8,209 
Latin America882 889 3,497 3,432 
Pacific807 761 2,479 2,227 
Total$16,673 $15,677 $47,361 $46,084