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Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Operating Revenue by Principal Geographic Region | The Company's operating revenue by principal geographic region (as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation) for the years ended December 31 is presented in the table below (in millions):
|  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Domestic (U.S. and Canada) |  | $ | 9,911 |  |  | $ | 26,960 |  |  | $ | 25,552 |
Atlantic |  | 2,226 |  |  | 7,387 |  |  | 7,103 |
Pacific |  | 1,706 |  |  | 5,132 |  |  | 5,188 |
Latin America |  | 1,512 |  |  | 3,780 |  |  | 3,460 |
Total |  | $ | 15,355 |  |  | $ | 43,259 |  |  | $ | 41,303 |
Roll Forward of Frequent Flyer Deferred Revenue | The table below presents a roll forward of Frequent flyer deferred revenue (in millions):
| Twelve Months Ended December 31,
| 2020 |  | 2019
Total Frequent flyer deferred revenue - beginning balance | $ | 5,276 |  |  | $ | 5,005 |
Total miles awarded | 1,336 |  |  | 2,621 |
Travel miles redeemed (Passenger revenue) | (568) |  |  | (2,213) |
Non-travel miles redeemed (Other operating revenue) | (69) |  |  | (137) |
Total Frequent flyer deferred revenue - ending balance | $ | 5,975 |  |  | $ | 5,276 |
Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash | The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statements of consolidated cash flows (in millions):
| UAL |  | United
| At December 31, |  | At December 31,
| 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Current assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 11,269 |  |  | $ | 2,762 |  |  | $ | 1,694 |  |  | $ | 11,269 |  |  | $ | 2,756 |  |  | $ | 1,688 |
Restricted cash | 255 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 255 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Other assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted cash | 218 |  |  | 106 |  |  | 105 |  |  | 218 |  |  | 106 |  |  | 105 |
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of consolidated cash flows | $ | 11,742 |  |  | $ | 2,868 |  |  | $ | 1,799 |  |  | $ | 11,742 |  |  | $ | 2,862 |  |  | $ | 1,793 |
Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash | The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statements of consolidated cash flows (in millions):
| UAL |  | United
| At December 31, |  | At December 31,
| 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Current assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 11,269 |  |  | $ | 2,762 |  |  | $ | 1,694 |  |  | $ | 11,269 |  |  | $ | 2,756 |  |  | $ | 1,688 |
Restricted cash | 255 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 255 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Other assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted cash | 218 |  |  | 106 |  |  | 105 |  |  | 218 |  |  | 106 |  |  | 105 |
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of consolidated cash flows | $ | 11,742 |  |  | $ | 2,868 |  |  | $ | 1,799 |  |  | $ | 11,742 |  |  | $ | 2,862 |  |  | $ | 1,793 |
Estimated Useful Lives of Property and Equipment | The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:
|  | Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Aircraft, spare engines and related rotable parts |  | 25 to 30
Aircraft seats |  | 10 to 15
Buildings |  | 25 to 45
Other property and equipment |  | 3 to 15
Computer software |  | 5 to 15
Building improvements |  | 1 to 40
Information about Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets | The following table presents information about the Company's goodwill and other intangible assets at December 31 (in millions):
|  | 2020 |  | 2019
|  | Gross Carrying Amount |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Gross Carrying Amount |  | Accumulated Amortization
Goodwill |  | $ | 4,527 |  |  |  |  | $ | 4,523 |  |  |
Indefinite-lived intangible assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Route authorities |  | $ | 1,020 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,150 |  |  |
Airport slots |  | 560 |  |  |  |  | 546 |  |  |
Tradenames and logos |  | 593 |  |  |  |  | 593 |  |  |
Alliances |  | 404 |  |  |  |  | 404 |  |  |
Total |  | $ | 2,577 |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,693 |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Frequent flyer database |  | $ | 1,177 |  |  | $ | 971 |  |  | $ | 1,177 |  |  | $ | 931 |
Hubs |  | 145 |  |  | 111 |  |  | 145 |  |  | 104 |
Contracts |  | 120 |  |  | 116 |  |  | 120 |  |  | 111 |
Other |  | 314 |  |  | 297 |  |  | 314 |  |  | 294 |
Total |  | $ | 1,756 |  |  | $ | 1,495 |  |  | $ | 1,756 |  |  | $ | 1,440 |

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