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Revenue Recognition
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]  
Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition
Revenue
The following are the significant categories comprising our reported operating revenues (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Passenger revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Passenger travel
$
1,006

 
$
10,217

 
$
8,085

 
$
18,989

Loyalty revenue - travel (1)
102

 
794

 
703

 
1,680

Total passenger revenue
1,108

 
11,011

 
8,788

 
20,669

Cargo
130

 
221

 
277

 
439

Other:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loyalty revenue - marketing services
356

 
594

 
927

 
1,172

Other revenue
28

 
134

 
145

 
264

Total other revenue
384

 
728

 
1,072

 
1,436

Total operating revenues
$
1,622

 
$
11,960

 
$
10,137

 
$
22,544

 
    
(1) 
Loyalty revenue included in passenger revenue is principally comprised of mileage credit redemptions, which were earned from travel or co-branded credit card and other partners.
The following is our total passenger revenue by geographic region (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Domestic
$
1,026

 
$
8,009

 
$
6,806

 
$
15,235

Latin America
34

 
1,241

 
1,214

 
2,612

Atlantic
42

 
1,407

 
565

 
2,080

Pacific
6

 
354

 
203

 
742

Total passenger revenue
$
1,108

 
$
11,011

 
$
8,788

 
$
20,669


We attribute passenger revenue by geographic region based upon the origin and destination of each flight segment.
Contract Balances
Our significant contract liabilities are comprised of (1) outstanding loyalty program mileage credits that may be redeemed for future travel and other non-air travel awards, reported as loyalty program liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and (2) ticket sales for transportation that has not yet been provided, reported as air traffic liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
(In millions)
Loyalty program liability
$
8,962

 
$
8,615

Air traffic liability
5,119

 
4,808

Total
$
14,081

 
$
13,423

The balance of the loyalty program liability fluctuates based on seasonal patterns, which impact the volume of mileage credits issued through travel or sold to co-branded credit card and other partners (deferral of revenue) and mileage credits redeemed (recognition of revenue). Changes in loyalty program liability are as follows (in millions):
Balance at December 31, 2019
$
8,615

Deferral of revenue
1,149

Recognition of revenue (1)
(802
)
Balance at June 30, 2020 (2)
$
8,962

 
(1) 
Principally relates to revenue recognized from the redemption of mileage credits for both air and non-air travel awards. Mileage credits are combined in one homogenous pool and are not separately identifiable. As such, the revenue is comprised of miles that were part of the loyalty program deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period, as well as miles that were issued during the period.
(2) 
Mileage credits can be redeemed at any time and generally do not expire as long as that AAdvantage member has any type of qualifying activity at least every 18 months. As of June 30, 2020, our current loyalty program liability was $2.4 billion and represents our current estimate of revenue expected to be recognized in the next 12 months based on historical trends, with the balance reflected in long-term loyalty program liability expected to be recognized as revenue in periods thereafter. Given the inherent uncertainty of the current operating environment due to COVID-19, we will continue to monitor redemption patterns and may adjust our estimates in the future.
The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines, as well as estimated future refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel. The balance in our air traffic liability also fluctuates with seasonal travel patterns. The contract duration of passenger tickets is generally one year. Accordingly, any revenue associated with tickets sold for future travel will be recognized within 12 months. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, $2.7 billion of revenue was recognized in passenger revenue that was included in our air traffic liability at December 31, 2019. In response to COVID-19, we extended the contract duration for certain tickets to December 31, 2021, principally those with travel scheduled March 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020. Accordingly, any revenue associated with these tickets will be recognized within the next 18 months. Given this change in contract duration and uncertainty surrounding the future demand for air travel, our estimates of revenue that will be recognized from future flown or unused tickets may be subject to variability and differ from historical experience.
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]  
Entity Information [Line Items]  
Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition
Revenue
The following are the significant categories comprising American's reported operating revenues (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Passenger revenue:


 


 
 
 
 
Passenger travel
$
1,006

 
$
10,217

 
$
8,085

 
$
18,989

Loyalty revenue - travel (1)
102

 
794

 
703

 
1,680

Total passenger revenue
1,108

 
11,011

 
8,788

 
20,669

Cargo
130

 
221

 
277

 
439

Other:


 


 
 
 
 
Loyalty revenue - marketing services
356

 
594

 
927

 
1,172

Other revenue
28

 
132

 
144

 
259

Total other revenue
384

 
726

 
1,071

 
1,431

Total operating revenues
$
1,622

 
$
11,958

 
$
10,136

 
$
22,539

 
    
(1) 
Loyalty revenue included in passenger revenue is principally comprised of mileage credit redemptions, which were earned from travel or co-branded credit card and other partners.
The following is American's total passenger revenue by geographic region (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Domestic
$
1,026

 
$
8,009

 
$
6,806

 
$
15,235

Latin America
34

 
1,241

 
1,214

 
2,612

Atlantic
42

 
1,407

 
565

 
2,080

Pacific
6

 
354

 
203

 
742

Total passenger revenue
$
1,108

 
$
11,011

 
$
8,788

 
$
20,669


American attributes passenger revenue by geographic region based upon the origin and destination of each flight segment.
Contract Balances
American's significant contract liabilities are comprised of (1) outstanding loyalty program mileage credits that may be redeemed for future travel and other non-air travel awards, reported as loyalty program liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and (2) ticket sales for transportation that has not yet been provided, reported as air traffic liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
June 30, 2020
 
December 31, 2019
 
(In millions)
Loyalty program liability
$
8,962

 
$
8,615

Air traffic liability
5,119

 
4,808

Total
$
14,081

 
$
13,423

The balance of the loyalty program liability fluctuates based on seasonal patterns, which impact the volume of mileage credits issued through travel or sold to co-branded credit card and other partners (deferral of revenue) and mileage credits redeemed (recognition of revenue). Changes in loyalty program liability are as follows (in millions):
Balance at December 31, 2019
$
8,615

Deferral of revenue
1,149

Recognition of revenue (1)
(802
)
Balance at June 30, 2020 (2)
$
8,962

 
(1) 
Principally relates to revenue recognized from the redemption of mileage credits for both air and non-air travel awards. Mileage credits are combined in one homogenous pool and are not separately identifiable. As such, the revenue is comprised of miles that were part of the loyalty program deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period, as well as miles that were issued during the period.
(2) 
Mileage credits can be redeemed at any time and generally do not expire as long as that AAdvantage member has any type of qualifying activity at least every 18 months. As of June 30, 2020, American's current loyalty program liability was $2.4 billion and represents American's current estimate of revenue expected to be recognized in the next 12 months based on historical trends, with the balance reflected in long-term loyalty program liability expected to be recognized as revenue in periods thereafter. Given the inherent uncertainty of the current operating environment due to COVID-19, American will continue to monitor redemption patterns and may adjust its estimates in the future.
The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines, as well as estimated future refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel. The balance in American's air traffic liability also fluctuates with seasonal travel patterns. The contract duration of passenger tickets is generally one year. Accordingly, any revenue associated with tickets sold for future travel will be recognized within 12 months. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, $2.7 billion of revenue was recognized in passenger revenue that was included in American's air traffic liability at December 31, 2019. In response to COVID-19, American extended the contract duration for certain tickets to December 31, 2021, principally those with travel scheduled March 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020. Accordingly, any revenue associated
with these tickets will be recognized within the next 18 months. Given this change in contract duration and uncertainty surrounding the future demand for air travel, American's estimates of revenue that will be recognized from future flown or unused tickets may be subject to variability and differ from historical experience.