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SPECIAL ITEMS SPECIAL ITEMS | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
SPECIAL ITEMS [Abstract] |
Unusual or Infrequent Items Disclosure [Text Block] | SPECIAL ITEMS In 2017, the Company recognized special items of $118 million for merger-related costs associated with its acquisition of Virgin America. Costs classified as merger-related are directly attributable to merger activities. The Company also recognized a special tax benefit of $280 million due to the remeasurement of net deferred tax liabilities as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017, partially offset by certain state tax law enactments. In 2016, the Company recognized $117 million in merger-related costs. $39 million of these costs were not deductible under the U.S. federal tax law, as discussed in Note 6. The Company recognized a special tax expense of $17 million representing the impact of adjustments to the Company's position on income sourcing in various states. In 2015, the Company recognized special items of $32 million in aggregate. The special items included expense of $14 million for a lump sum settlements offered to terminated and vested participants in the qualified defined benefit pension plans and a litigation-related matter. See Note 7 for more information regarding the pension settlement charge. The Company also recognized a special tax benefit of $26 million representing the discrete impacts of adjustments to the Company's position on income sourcing in various states. The following breaks down merger-related costs incurred in 2017 and 2016 (in millions):
| 2017 |  | 2016
Consulting and professional services | $ | 52 |  |  | $ | 32 |
Severance and retention benefits | 40 |  |  | 22 |
Banking fees | — |  |  | 36 |
Legal and accounting fees | 3 |  |  | 22 |
Other merger-related costs(a) | 23 |  |  | 5 |
Total Merger-related Costs | $ | 118 |  |  | $ | 117 |
(a) | Other merger-related costs consist primarily of costs for marketing and advertising, IT, training and skill development, employee appreciation and company sponsored events, moving expenses, supplies, and other immaterial expenses.

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- Definition SPECIAL ITEMS [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The entire description for costs incurred to effect a business combination that have been expensed during the period. Such costs could include business integration costs, systems integration and conversion costs, and severance and other employee-related costs. + References No definition available. + Details
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