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Special Items - Additional Information (Detail) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2016 Contract | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) Contract plan | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 Attendant | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Labor agreement costs |  | $ 14,000,000 |  | $ 124,000,000 |  |  |
Severance and benefits costs |  | 13,000,000 | $ 28,000,000 | 27,000,000 | $ 103,000,000 |  |
Severance and benefits costs net of tax |  | 8,000,000 |  | 17,000,000 |  |  |
Charge related to the amended lease |  |  |  | $ 74,000,000 |  |  |
Lease maturity year |  |  |  | 2029 |  |  |
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges |  | 18,000,000 | 48,000,000 | $ 32,000,000 | 92,000,000 |  |
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges net of tax |  | 12,000,000 |  | 20,000,000 |  |  |
Venezuela local currency loss |  |  | 61,000,000 | 8,000,000 |  |  |
Venezuela local currency loss net of tax |  |  |  | 5,000,000 |  |  |
Sale of an affiliate |  |  |  | 9,000,000 |  |  |
Sale of an affiliate net of tax |  |  |  | 6,000,000 |  |  |
Write off of unamortized discount |  |  |  |  | 134,000,000 |  |
Accrual severance and benefit |  | 34,000,000 | $ 110,000,000 | $ 34,000,000 | $ 110,000,000 |  |
Severance-related accrual expected payment date |  |  |  | 2016 |  |  |
Newark Liberty International Airport |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets |  |  |  | $ 412,000,000 |  |  |
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets, net of tax benefits |  |  |  | $ 264,000,000 |  |  |
Flight Attendant Postretirement Medical Plan | Postretirement Medical Plan |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of plans amended | plan |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |
Curtailment gain recognition of prior service credit |  | 47,000,000 |  | $ 47,000,000 |  |  |
Curtailment gain recognition of prior service credit,net of tax |  |  |  | $ 30,000,000 |  |  |
Int'1 Association of Machinists |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of new contracts extended | Contract | 7 |  |  | 7 |  |  |
Service contract extended year | 2021 |  |  | 2021 |  |  |
Labor agreement costs |  | 61,000,000 |  | $ 171,000,000 |  |  |
Labor agreement costs net of tax |  | $ 39,000,000 |  | 109,000,000 |  |  |
Lease Amendment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Charge related to the amended lease |  |  |  | 74,000,000 |  |  |
Charge related to the amended lease net of tax |  |  |  | $ 47,000,000 |  |  |
Voluntary early out program |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of positions eliminated | Attendant |  |  |  |  |  | 2,500 |
Voluntary early out program | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Severance payment per participant |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100,000

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