Delta Airlines 2012 Annual Report Download - page 65

The following table summarizes the accounting treatment of our derivative contracts:
We perform, at least quarterly, both a prospective and retrospective assessment of the effectiveness of our derivative contracts designated as
hedges, including assessing the possibility of counterparty default. If we determine that a derivative is no longer expected to be highly effective, we
discontinue hedge accounting prospectively and recognize subsequent changes in the fair value of the hedge in earnings. We believe our derivative
contracts that continue to be designated as hedges, consisting of interest rate and foreign currency exchange contracts, will continue to be highly
effective in offsetting changes in cash flow attributable to the hedged risk.
Hedge Margin. In accordance with our fuel, interest rate and foreign currency hedge contracts, we may require counterparties to fund the margin
associated with our gain position and/or counterparties may require us to fund the margin associated with our loss position on these contracts. The
amount of the margin, if any, is periodically adjusted based on the fair value of the hedge contracts. The margin requirements are intended to mitigate
a party's exposure to the risk of contracting party default. We do not offset margin funded to counterparties or margin funded to us by counterparties
against fair value amounts recorded for our hedge contracts.
The hedge margin we receive from counterparties is recorded in cash and cash equivalents or restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments, with the offsetting obligation in accounts payable. The hedge margin we provide to counterparties is recorded in accounts receivable.
All cash flows associated with purchasing and settling hedge contracts are classified as operating cash flows.
Passenger Tickets
We record sales of passenger tickets in air traffic liability. Passenger revenue is recognized when we provide transportation or when the ticket
expires unused, reducing the related air traffic liability. We periodically evaluate the estimated air traffic liability and record any adjustments in our
Consolidated Statements of Operations. These adjustments relate primarily to refunds, exchanges, transactions with other airlines and other items for
which final settlement occurs in periods subsequent to the sale of the related tickets at amounts other than the original sales price.
Passenger Taxes and Fees
We are required to charge certain taxes and fees on our passenger tickets, including U.S. federal transportation taxes, federal security charges,
airport passenger facility charges and foreign arrival and departure taxes. These taxes and fees are assessments on the customer for which we act as a
collection agent. Because we are not entitled to retain these taxes and fees, we do not include such amounts in passenger revenue. We record a
liability when the amounts are collected and reduce the liability when payments are made to the applicable government agency or operating carrier.
Frequent Flyer Program
The SkyMiles Program offers incentives to travel on Delta. This program allows customers to earn mileage credits by flying on Delta, regional air
carriers with which we have contract carrier agreements (“Contract Carriers”) and airlines that participate in the SkyMiles Program, as well as
through participating companies such as credit card companies, hotels and car rental agencies. We also sell mileage credits to non-airline businesses,
customers and other airlines.
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Impact of Unrealized Gains and Losses
Accounting Designation Effective Portion Ineffective Portion
Not designated as hedges Change in fair value of hedge is recorded in earnings
Designated as cash flow hedges Market adjustments are recorded in AOCI Excess, if any, over effective portion of
hedge is recorded in other expense
Designated as fair value hedges Market adjustments are recorded in long-
term debt and capital leases Excess, if any, over effective portion of hedge is recorded in other expense