XML 103 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

SPECIAL ITEMS SPECIAL ITEMS | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019
SPECIAL ITEMS [Abstract] |
Unusual or Infrequent Items Disclosure [Text Block] | SPECIAL ITEMS In 2019, the Company recognized special items of $44 million for merger-related costs associated with its acquisition of Virgin America. Costs classified as merger-related are directly attributable to merger activities. In 2018, the Company recognized $87 million in merger-related costs. The Company incurred a one-time settlement fee of $20 million for the termination of an existing maintenance services agreement and subsequently entered into a new services agreement that provides more flexibility for the timing and scope of engine work. Additionally, the Company incurred $25 million for one-time bonuses paid to employees as a result of tax reform. These charges were recognized as special charges and are included in the Special items - other line on our consolidated statements of operations. In 2017, the Company recognized $116 million in merger-related costs. The Company also recognized a special tax benefit of $237 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. The Company has recognized $364 million in merger-related costs since the acquisition of Virgin America in December 2016. The following breaks down merger-related costs incurred in 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):
| 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Consulting and professional services | $ | 18 |  |  | $ | 45 |  |  | $ | 52 |
Employee-related costs(a) | 15 |  |  | 13 |  |  | 41 |
Legal and accounting fees | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 3 |
Other merger-related costs(b) | 10 |  |  | 28 |  |  | 20 |
Total Merger-related Costs | $ | 44 |  |  | $ | 87 |  |  | $ | 116 |
(a)Employee-related costs consist primarily of vacation balance true-ups, severance, retention bonuses, and training and skill development. (b)Other merger-related costs consist primarily of costs for marketing and advertising, IT, employee appreciation and company sponsored events, moving expenses, supplies, and other immaterial expenses.

X
- Definition SPECIAL ITEMS [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | alk_SPECIALITEMSAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | alk_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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 Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2303972 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionIntegrationRestructuringAndOtherRelatedCostsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration