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REVENUE | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2019
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue [Abstract] |
REVENUE | REVENUE Passenger Revenues The Company’s contracts with its Customers primarily consist of its tickets sold, which are initially deferred as Air traffic liability. Passenger revenue associated with tickets is recognized when the performance obligation to the Customer is satisfied, which is primarily when travel is provided. Revenue is categorized by revenue source as the Company believes it best depicts the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flow. The following table provides the components of Passenger revenue recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018:
| Three months ended September 30, |  | Nine months ended September 30,
(in millions) | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Passenger non-loyalty | $ | 4,400 |  |  | $ | 4,417 |  |  | $ | 13,126 |  |  | $ | 12,969 |
Passenger loyalty - air transportation | 657 |  |  | 623 |  |  | 1,814 |  |  | 1,702 |
Passenger ancillary sold separately | 173 |  |  | 154 |  |  | 522 |  |  | 466 |
Total passenger revenues | $ | 5,230 |  |  | $ | 5,194 |  |  | $ | 15,462 |  |  | $ | 15,137 |
As of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the components of Air traffic liability, including contract liabilities based on tickets sold, unused funds available to the Customer, and loyalty 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, 2019 |  | December 31, 2018
Air traffic liability - passenger travel and ancillary passenger services | $ | 2,627 |  |  | $ | 2,059 |
Air traffic liability - loyalty program | 3,339 |  |  | 3,011 |
Total Air traffic liability | $ | 5,966 |  |  | $ | 5,070 |
The balance in Air traffic liability – passenger travel and ancillary passenger services also includes unused funds that are available for use by Customers and are not currently associated with a ticket, but represent funds effectively refunded and made available for use to purchase a ticket for a flight that occurs prior to their expiration. These funds are typically created as a result of a prior ticket cancellation or exchange. These performance obligations are expected to have a duration of twelve months or less; therefore, the Company has elected to not disclose the amount of the remaining transaction price and its expected timing of recognition for passenger tickets. Recognition of revenue associated with the Company’s loyalty liability can be difficult to predict, as the number of award seats available to members is not currently restricted and they could choose to redeem their points at any time that a seat is available. The performance obligations classified as a current liability related to the Company’s loyalty program were estimated based on expected redemptions utilizing historical redemption patterns, and forecasted flight availability, fares, and coefficients. The entire balance classified as Air traffic liability – noncurrent relates to loyalty points that were estimated to be redeemed in periods beyond 12 months following the representative balance sheet date. Based on historical trends, the Company expects the majority of loyalty points to be redeemed within two years. Rollforwards of the Company's Air traffic liability - loyalty program for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in millions):
| Three months ended September 30, |  | Nine months ended September 30,
| 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Air traffic liability - loyalty program - beginning balance | $ | 3,289 |  |  | $ | 2,919 |  |  | $ | 3,011 |  |  | $ | 2,667 |
Amounts deferred associated with points awarded | 727 |  |  | 669 |  |  | 2,195 |  |  | 2,027 |
Revenue recognized from points redeemed - Passenger | (657 | ) |  | (623 | ) |  | (1,814 | ) |  | (1,702 | )
Revenue recognized from points redeemed - Other | (20 | ) |  | (17 | ) |  | (53 | ) |  | (44 | )
Air traffic liability - loyalty program - ending balance | $ | 3,339 |  |  | $ | 2,948 |  |  | $ | 3,339 |  |  | $ | 2,948 |
Air traffic liability includes consideration received for ticket and loyalty related performance obligations which have not been satisfied as of a given date. Rollforwards of the amounts included in Air traffic liability as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in millions):
| Air traffic liability
Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | 5,070 |
Current period sales (passenger travel, ancillary services, flight loyalty, and partner loyalty) | 16,410 |
Revenue from amounts included in contract liability opening balances | (3,160 | )
Revenue from current period sales | (12,354 | )
Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | 5,966 |
| 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 | (3,098 | )
Revenue from current period sales | (12,084 | )
Balance at September 30, 2018 | $ | 5,583 |
The Company has a co-branded credit card agreement (“Agreement”) with Chase Bank USA, N.A. (“Chase”), through which the Company sells loyalty points and certain marketing components, which consist of the use of Southwest Airlines’ brand and access to Rapid Rewards Member lists, licensing and advertising elements, and the use of the Company’s resource team. The Company recognized revenue related to the marketing, advertising, and other travel-related benefits of the revenue associated with various loyalty partner agreements including, but not limited to, the Agreement with Chase, within Other operating revenues. For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $329 million and $290 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $984 million and $856 million, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for deferred revenues at the end of the reporting period, and description and amounts of significant changes that occurred during the reporting period. Deferred revenue is a liability as of the balance sheet date related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 430 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122452 + Details
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