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Revenue Recognition
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Entity Information [Line Items]  
Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition
Revenue
The following are the significant categories comprising our operating revenues (in millions):
 Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2023202220232022
Passenger revenue:
Passenger travel$11,473 $11,536 $33,821 $30,150 
Loyalty revenue - travel (1)
948 860 2,681 2,288 
Total passenger revenue12,421 12,396 36,502 32,438 
Cargo193 279 613 970 
Other:
Loyalty revenue - marketing services 732 655 2,195 1,991 
Other revenue136 132 416 384 
Total other revenue868 787 2,611 2,375 
Total operating revenues$13,482 $13,462 $39,726 $35,783 
(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 September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2023202220232022
Domestic$8,616 $8,786 $25,848 $23,966 
Latin America1,490 1,596 5,045 4,357 
Atlantic
2,056 1,901 4,875 3,848 
Pacific259 113 734 267 
Total passenger revenue$12,421 $12,396 $36,502 $32,438 
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 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.
September 30, 2023December 31, 2022
(In millions)
Loyalty program liability$9,325 $9,145 
Air traffic liability7,673 6,745 
Total$16,998 $15,890 
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, 2022$9,145 
Deferral of revenue2,900 
Recognition of revenue (1)
(2,720)
Balance at September 30, 2023 (2)
$9,325 
(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 mileage credits that were part of the loyalty program deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period, as well as mileage credits 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 24 months or if the AAdvantage member is the primary holder of a co-branded credit card. As of September 30, 2023, our current loyalty program liability was $3.5 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.
The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines. The balance in our air traffic liability also fluctuates with seasonal travel patterns. The contract duration of passenger tickets is one year. Accordingly, any revenue associated with tickets sold for future travel will be recognized within 12 months. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, $5.2 billion of revenue was recognized in passenger revenue that was included in our air traffic liability at December 31, 2022. Substantially all tickets issued in 2022 and thereafter are no longer subject to change fees which provides more flexibility for customers to change travel plans. Given this new flexibility offered to our customers, our estimate of revenue that will be recognized from the air traffic liability for future flown or unused tickets may be subject to variability and differ from historical experience.
American Airlines, Inc.  
Entity Information [Line Items]  
Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition
Revenue
The following are the significant categories comprising American’s operating revenues (in millions):
 Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2023202220232022
Passenger revenue:
Passenger travel$11,473 $11,536 $33,821 $30,150 
Loyalty revenue - travel (1)
948 860 2,681 2,288 
Total passenger revenue12,421 12,396 36,502 32,438 
Cargo193 279 613 970 
Other:
Loyalty revenue - marketing services732 655 2,195 1,991 
Other revenue135 131 413 379 
Total other revenue867 786 2,608 2,370 
Total operating revenues$13,481 $13,461 $39,723 $35,778 
(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 September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2023202220232022
Domestic$8,616 $8,786 $25,848 $23,966 
Latin America1,490 1,596 5,045 4,357 
Atlantic
2,056 1,901 4,875 3,848 
Pacific259 113 734 267 
Total passenger revenue$12,421 $12,396 $36,502 $32,438 
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 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.
September 30, 2023December 31, 2022
(In millions)
Loyalty program liability$9,325 $9,145 
Air traffic liability7,673 6,745 
Total$16,998 $15,890 
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, 2022$9,145 
Deferral of revenue2,900 
Recognition of revenue (1)
(2,720)
Balance at September 30, 2023 (2)
$9,325 
(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 mileage credits that were part of the loyalty program deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period, as well as mileage credits 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 24 months or if the AAdvantage member is the primary holder of a co-branded credit card. As of September 30, 2023, American’s current loyalty program liability was $3.5 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.
The air traffic liability principally represents tickets sold for future travel on American and partner airlines. The balance in American’s air traffic liability also fluctuates with seasonal travel patterns. The contract duration of passenger tickets is one year. Accordingly, any revenue associated with tickets sold for future travel will be recognized within 12 months. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, $5.2 billion of revenue was recognized in passenger revenue that was included in American’s air traffic liability at December 31, 2022. Substantially all tickets issued in 2022 and thereafter are no longer subject to change fees which provides more flexibility for customers to change travel plans. Given this new flexibility offered to its customers, American’s estimate of revenue that will be recognized from the air traffic liability for future flown or unused tickets may be subject to variability and differ from historical experience.