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Revenue Recognition
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Entity Information [Line Items]  
Revenue Recognition Revenue Recognition
Revenue
The following are the significant categories comprising our operating revenues (in millions):
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 20242023
Passenger revenue:
Passenger travel$10,582 $10,291 
Loyalty revenue - travel (1)
876 812 
Total passenger revenue11,458 11,103 
Cargo187 223 
Other:
Loyalty revenue - marketing services 786 722 
Other revenue139 141 
Total other revenue925 863 
Total operating revenues$12,570 $12,189 
(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 March 31,
 20242023
Domestic$8,262 $8,037 
Latin America1,902 1,915 
Atlantic
992 931 
Pacific302 220 
Total passenger revenue$11,458 $11,103 
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.
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
(In millions)
Loyalty program liability$9,612 $9,327 
Air traffic liability8,526 6,200 
Total$18,138 $15,527 
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, 2023$9,327 
Deferral of revenue1,159 
Recognition of revenue (1)
(874)
Balance at March 31, 2024 (2)
$9,612 
(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 March 31, 2024, our current loyalty program liability was $3.6 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 generally one year. Accordingly, any revenue associated with tickets sold for future travel will be recognized within 12 months. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, $3.8 billion of revenue was recognized in passenger revenue that was included in our air traffic liability at December 31, 2023.
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 March 31,
 20242023
Passenger revenue:
Passenger travel$10,582 $10,291 
Loyalty revenue - travel (1)
876 812 
Total passenger revenue11,458 11,103 
Cargo187 223 
Other:
Loyalty revenue - marketing services786 722 
Other revenue138 140 
Total other revenue924 862 
Total operating revenues$12,569 $12,188 
(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 March 31,
 20242023
Domestic$8,262 $8,037 
Latin America1,902 1,915 
Atlantic
992 931 
Pacific302 220 
Total passenger revenue$11,458 $11,103 
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.
March 31, 2024December 31, 2023
(In millions)
Loyalty program liability$9,612 $9,327 
Air traffic liability8,526 6,200 
Total$18,138 $15,527 
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, 2023$9,327 
Deferral of revenue1,159 
Recognition of revenue (1)
(874)
Balance at March 31, 2024 (2)
$9,612 
(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 March 31, 2024, American’s current loyalty program liability was $3.6 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 generally one year. Accordingly, any revenue associated with tickets sold for future travel will be recognized within 12 months. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, $3.8 billion of revenue was recognized in passenger revenue that was included in American’s air traffic liability at December 31, 2023.