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Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

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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