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Revenue (Tables)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Disaggregation of Passenger Revenue
The following table provides the components of Passenger revenue recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(in millions)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Passenger non-loyalty
$
4,417

 
$
4,182

 
$
12,969

 
$
12,733

Passenger loyalty - air transportation
623

 
616

 
1,702

 
1,724

Passenger ancillary sold separately
154

 
146

 
466

 
412

   Total passenger revenues
$
5,194

 
$
4,944

 
$
15,137

 
$
14,869
Components of Air Traffic Liability
A rollforward of the Company's Air traffic liability - loyalty program for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is as follows (in millions):

 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Air traffic liability - loyalty program - beginning balance
$
2,919

 
$
2,586

 
$
2,667

 
$
2,485

   Amounts deferred associated with points awarded
669

 
621

 
2,027

 
1,846

   Revenue recognized from points redeemed - Passenger
(623
)
 
(616
)
 
(1,702
)
 
(1,724
)
   Revenue recognized from points redeemed - Other
(17
)
 
(9
)
 
(44
)
 
(25
)
Air traffic liability - loyalty program - ending balance
$
2,948

 
$
2,582

 
$
2,948

 
$
2,582

The components of Air traffic liability, including contract liabilities based on tickets sold, unused funds available to the Customer, and frequent flyer points available for redemption, net of expected spoilage, within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet were as follows:

 
Balance as of
(in millions)
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Air traffic liability - passenger travel and ancillary passenger services
$
2,635

 
$
1,898

Air traffic liability - loyalty program
2,948

 
2,667

   Total Air traffic liability
$
5,583

 
$
4,565
Rollforward of Air Traffic Liability
Air traffic liability includes consideration received for ticket and loyalty related performance obligations which have not been satisfied as of a given date. A rollforward of the amounts included in Air traffic liability as of September 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows (in millions):

 
Air traffic liability
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
4,565

   Current period sales (passenger travel, ancillary services, flight loyalty, and partner loyalty)
16,200

   Revenue from amounts included in contract liability opening balances (a)
(3,098
)
   Revenue from current period sales (a)
(12,084
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
$
5,583

(a) Does not include certain ancillary revenues that are purchased on the day of travel, which do not flow through Air traffic liability.

 
Air traffic liability
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
4,221

   Current period sales (passenger travel, ancillary services, flight loyalty, and partner loyalty)
15,696

   Revenue from amounts included in contract liability opening balances (a)
(2,780
)
   Revenue from current period sales (a)
(12,114
)
Balance at September 30, 2017
$
5,023

(a) Does not include certain ancillary revenues that are purchased on the day of travel, which do not flow through Air traffic liability.