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Special Charges - Additional Information (Detail) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Technician | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) plan
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Severance and benefits costs | $ 23,000,000 |  | $ 13,000,000 |  | $ 101,000,000 | $ 27,000,000
Severance and benefits costs net of tax |  |  | 8,000,000 |  |  | 17,000,000
Impairment of assets | 15,000,000 |  |  |  | 15,000,000 | 412,000,000
Labor agreement costs |  |  | 14,000,000 |  |  | $ 124,000,000
Lease maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2029
Cleveland airport lease restructuring |  |  |  |  |  | $ 74,000,000
Cleveland airport lease restructuring, net of taxes |  |  |  |  |  | 47,000,000
Accrual severance and benefit | 31,000,000 |  | 34,000,000 |  | $ 31,000,000 | 34,000,000
Severance-related accrual expected payment date |  |  |  |  | 2019 |
Accrual for permanently grounded aircraft | 28,000,000 |  | 41,000,000 |  | $ 28,000,000 | 41,000,000
Grounded aircraft related accrual expected payment date |  |  |  |  | 2025 |
Postretirement Medical Plan | Flight Attendant Postretirement Medical Plan |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Curtailment gain recognition of prior service credit |  |  |  |  |  | 47,000,000
Curtailment gain recognition of prior service credit,net of tax |  |  |  |  |  | $ 30,000,000
Number of plans amended | plan |  |  |  |  |  | 2
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 |  |
International Brotherhood of Teamsters |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Severance and benefits costs | 16,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 73,000,000 |
Severance and benefits costs net of tax | 10,000,000 |  |  |  | 47,000,000 |
Int'l Association of Machinists |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Labor agreement costs |  |  | 61,000,000 |  |  | $ 171,000,000
Labor agreement costs net of tax |  |  | $ 39,000,000 |  |  | $ 109,000,000
Voluntary early out program | International Brotherhood of Teamsters |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of positions eliminated | Technician |  | 1,000 |  |  |  |
Voluntary early out program | International Brotherhood of Teamsters | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Severance payment per participant |  | $ 100,000 |  |  |  |
Management Reorganization Initiative |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Severance and benefits costs | 7,000,000 |  |  |  | 28,000,000 |
Severance and benefits costs net of tax | 5,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 18,000,000 |
Maintenance Service Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |
Special Charges [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets | 15,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets net of tax | $ 10,000,000 |  |  |  |  |

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