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Financial Derivative Instruments - Fuel Hedging (Details)	Sep. 30, 2014 gal
Remainder of 2014
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	137,000,000	[1]
2015
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	1,436,000,000	[1]
2016
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	1,314,000,000	[1]
2017
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	820,000,000	[1]
2018
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	98,000,000	[1]
[1] Due to the types of derivatives utilized by the Company, these volumes represent the maximum economic hedge in place and may vary significantly as market prices fluctuate.

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	luv_VolumeOfFuelHedgingLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration