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Fair Value

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Under the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the Codification, disclosures are required about how fair value is determined for assets and liabilities and a hierarchy for which these assets and liabilities must be grouped is established, based on significant levels of inputs as follows:

Level 1 - observable inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 - quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, and other inputs that are observable directly or indirectly for the asset or liability; or

Level 3 - unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.

The determination of where assets and liabilities fall within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a listing of our assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis and where they are classified within the fair value hierarchy (in millions):


	As of December 31, 2020
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,330	$	130	$	—	$	1,460
Available-for-sale investment securities	—		1,137		—		1,137


	As of December 31, 2019
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	611	$	30	$	—	$	641
Available-for-sale investment securities	—		351		—		351
Aircraft fuel derivatives	—		8		—		8

Refer to Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements for fair value information related to our outstanding debt obligations as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. The carrying values of all other financial instruments approximated their fair values at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Cash equivalents

Our cash equivalents include money market securities, commercial paper, and time deposits which are readily convertible into cash, have maturities of three months or less when purchased, and are considered to be highly liquid and easily tradable. The money market securities are valued using inputs observable in active markets for identical securities and are therefore classified as Level 1 within our fair value hierarchy. The fair values of remaining instruments are based on observable inputs in non-active markets, which are therefore classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy.

Available-for-sale investment securities

Our available-for-sale investment securities include investments such as time deposits, commercial paper, and convertible debt securities. The fair values of these instruments are based on observable inputs in non-active markets, which are therefore classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy. We did not record any material gains or losses on these securities during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

Aircraft fuel derivatives

Our aircraft fuel derivatives include call spread options which are not traded on public exchanges. Their fair values are determined using a market approach based on inputs that are readily available from public markets for commodities and energy trading activities; therefore, they are classified as Level 2 inputs. The data inputs are combined into quantitative models and processes to generate forward curves and volatilities related to the specific terms of the underlying hedge contracts.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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