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Special Charges (Credits) - Narrative (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($) aircraft | Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) employee | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($) employee aircraft | Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Apr. 21, 2021 USD ($) | Feb. 28, 2021 aircraft
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Government assistance received |  |  | $ 4,500,000,000 | $ 5,800,000,000 | $ 4,500,000,000 |  |
Government assistance received through unsecured loans |  |  | 1,300,000,000 | 1,700,000,000 | 1,300,000,000 |  |
Government assistance received through grants |  |  | 3,200,000,000 |  | 3,200,000,000 |  |
Issuance of warrants |  |  | 57,000,000 |  | 57,000,000 |  |
Impairment of assets | $ 59,000,000 |  | 80,000,000 | $ 59,000,000 | 130,000,000 |  |
Number of impaired aircraft | aircraft | 64 |  |  | 64 |  |  |
Number of aircraft temporarily removed | aircraft |  |  |  |  |  |  | 52
Severance and benefit costs | $ 11,000,000 |  | 63,000,000 | $ 428,000,000 | 63,000,000 |  |
Total net other charges | 61,000,000 |  |  | 77,000,000 |  |  |
Nonoperating unrealized gains | 147,000,000 |  | 9,000,000 | 125,000,000 | (310,000,000) |  |
Nonoperating debt extinguishment and modification fees | 62,000,000 |  | 0 | 62,000,000 | 0 |  |
CARES Act grant | (1,079,000,000) |  | (1,589,000,000) | (2,889,000,000) | (1,589,000,000) |  |
Gain for the change in fair value of certain derivative assets |  |  |  |  | 24,000,000 |  |
Settlement loss | 0 |  | 231,000,000 | 46,000,000 | 231,000,000 |  |
Nonoperating credit loss on BRW Term Loan and related guarantee | 0 |  | 0 | 0 | 697,000,000 |  |
Payroll Support Program 2 (PSP2) Warrants |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of warrants |  |  |  | 52,000,000 |  |  |
PSP3 Warrants |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of warrants |  |  |  | 99,000,000 |  |  |
PSP2 Note |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Government assistance received through grants |  |  |  | 1,100,000,000 |  |  |
PSP3 Note |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Government assistance received through grants |  |  |  | (2,900,000,000) |  |  |
Deferred grant income | 1,100,000,000 |  |  | 1,100,000,000 |  |  |
2026 Notes and 2029 Notes | Secured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount | 4,000,000,000.0 |  |  | 4,000,000,000.0 |  | $ 4,000,000,000.0 |
2026 Notes | Secured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount | 2,000,000,000.0 |  |  | 2,000,000,000.0 |  | 2,000,000,000.0 |
2029 Notes | Secured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount | 2,000,000,000.0 |  |  | 2,000,000,000.0 |  | 2,000,000,000.0 |
Term Loan Facility | Secured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount | 1,400,000,000 |  |  | 1,400,000,000 |  | 1,400,000,000 |
Credit Agreement | Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount | 1,000,000,000.0 |  |  | 1,000,000,000.0 |  | 1,000,000,000.0 |
CARES Act Term Loan Facility | Secured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount | 520,000,000 |  |  | 520,000,000 |  | $ 520,000,000 |
Azul |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Nonoperating unrealized gains | 57,000,000 |  |  | 35,000,000 |  |  |
Gain (loss) on equity securities |  |  |  |  | 284,000,000 |  |
Clear Secure, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Nonoperating unrealized gains | $ 90,000,000 |  |  | $ 90,000,000 |  |  |
BRW | Term Loan Receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Nonoperating credit loss on BRW Term Loan and related guarantee |  |  |  |  | 697,000,000 |  |
Routes |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of intangible assets |  |  | $ 80,000,000 |  | $ 130,000,000 |  |
Employee Separation | Voluntary Separation Leave Programs |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of employees electing to voluntarily separate from the company | employee |  | 4,500 |  | 4,500 |  |  |
Special termination benefits related to VSL programs |  | $ 46,000,000 |  | $ 46,000,000 |  |  |
Employee Separation | Voluntary Separation Leave Programs | Full-Time Employees |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
One-time per employee contribution for special termination benefits related to VSL programs |  | 125,000 |  |  |  |  |
Employee Separation | Voluntary Separation Leave Programs | Part-Time Employees |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
One-time per employee contribution for special termination benefits related to VSL programs |  | $ 75,000 |  |  |  |  |

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