SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO

5. REVENUE

Passenger Revenues

The Company’s contracts with its Customers primarily consist of its tickets sold, which are initially deferred as Air traffic liability. Passenger revenue associated with tickets is recognized when the performance obligation to the Customer is satisfied, which is primarily when travel is provided.

Revenue is categorized by revenue source as the Company believes it best depicts the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flow. The following table provides the components of Passenger revenue recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

As of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the components of Air traffic liability, including contract liabilities based on tickets sold and unused flight credits available to the Customer, both of which are net of recorded breakage, and loyalty points available for redemption, within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet were as follows:

The balance in Air traffic liability - passenger travel and ancillary passenger services also includes flight credits not currently associated with a ticket that can be applied by Customers towards the purchase of future travel. These flight credits are typically created as a result of a prior ticket cancellation or exchange, and are recorded net of associated breakage. Rollforwards of the Company's Air traffic liability - loyalty program for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

Air traffic liability includes consideration received for ticket and loyalty related performance obligations which have not been satisfied as of a given date. Rollforwards of the amounts included in Air traffic liability as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

(a)Current period sales include passenger travel, ancillary services, flight loyalty, and partner loyalty

Under the Company's policy, flight credits never expire. However, as the Company believes that a portion of Customer flight credits issued will not be redeemed, it estimates and records breakage associated with such amounts. Customer flight credits represent approximately 6 percent and 8 percent of the total Air traffic liability balance as of September 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The Company recognized revenue related to the marketing, advertising, and other travel-related benefits of the revenue associated with various loyalty partner agreements including, but not limited to, its co-branded credit card agreement with Chase Bank USA, N.A, within Other operating revenues. For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized $538 million and $526 million of such revenue, respectively. For each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized $1.6 billion.