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Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period over which miles are expected to be redeemed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | P2Y |  |  |  |
Revenue | $ 10,888 | $ 11,380 | $ 11,402 | $ 9,589 | $ 10,491 | $ 11,003 | $ 10,777 | $ 9,032 | $ 43,259 | $ 41,303 | [1] | $ 37,784 | [1]
Carrying value of computer software | 422 |  |  |  | $ 359 |  |  |  | 422 | 359 |  |  |
Amortization expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 | 67 |  | 79 |
Projected amortization expense in 2020 | 55 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 55 |  |  |  |
Projected amortization expense in 2021 | 50 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50 |  |  |  |
Projected amortization expense in 2022 | 40 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40 |  |  |  |
Projected amortization expense in 2023 | 37 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 37 |  |  |  |
Projected amortization expense in 2024 | $ 32 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32 |  |  |  |
Advertising expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 212 | 211 |  | 217 |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Frequent flier program expiration period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Frequent flier program expiration period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 years |  |  |  |
Computer software |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 135 | 122 |  | 117 |
Advance Ticket Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Passenger revenue included in advance ticket sales recognized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,400 | 3,100 |  |  |
Ancillary Fees Recorded within Passenger Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,400 | 2,200 |  | 2,000 |
Other Operating Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,455 | 2,360 | [1] | 2,210 | [1]
Other Operating Revenue | Chase and Other Partner Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000 | 2,000 |  | $ 1,800 |
One-time payment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 50 |  |  |
[1] | Amounts adjusted due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). See Note 1 to the financial statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information.

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