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Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Loans
Mortgages
Oct. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2013
Apr. 29, 2009
May 06, 2008
Dec. 31, 2004
Agreements
Mortgages
Feb. 28, 1997
Jul. 01, 2009
Mortgages
Oct. 03, 2007
Mortgages
Dec. 31, 2006
Feb. 28, 2005
Sep. 30, 2004
Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Letters of Credit Outstanding Amount 440,000,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount                        
Net book value of assets pledged as collateral for the Company's secured borrowings, primarily aircraft and engines 2,000,000,000us-gaap_PledgedAssetsSeparatelyReportedSecuritiesPledgedAsCollateralAtFairValue                        
Maximum additional number of assets pledged as collateral in case obligations related to fuel derivatives exceed certain thresholds 81luv_MaximumAdditionalNumberOfAssetsPledgedAsCollateralInCaseObligationsRelatedToFuelDerivativesExceedCertainThresholds                        
Net book value of additional assets pledged as collateral in case obligations related to fuel derivatives exceed certain thresholds 2,000,000,000luv_NetBookValueOfAdditionalAssetsPledgedAsCollateralInCaseObligationsRelatedToFuelDerivativesExceedCertainThresholds                        
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]                          
2015 182,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths                        
2016 610,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo                        
2017 520,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree                        
2018 264,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour                        
2019 514,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive                        
Thereafter 551,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive                        
AirTran Airways                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Number of mortgages on secured aircraft 22luv_NumberOfMortgagesOnSecuredAircraft
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AirTran Airways | Interest rate derivatives                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Notional amount 243,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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AirTran Airways | Maximum | Interest rate derivatives                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 6.435%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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Floating-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2020 | AirTran Airways                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Number of mortgages on secured aircraft 19luv_NumberOfMortgagesOnSecuredAircraft
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= luv_NotesPayableAircraftFloatingRateThrough2020Member
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Number of loans prepaid during period 8luv_DebtInstrumentNumberofLoansPrepaidDuringPeriod
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= luv_NotesPayableAircraftFloatingRateThrough2020Member
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Weighted average interest rate 1.66%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
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= luv_NotesPayableAircraftFloatingRateThrough2020Member
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Fixed-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2018 - 7.02% | AirTran Airways                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Weighted average interest rate 7.02%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
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= luv_NotesPayableAircraftFixedRateThrough2018Member
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5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Conversion ratio   53.7747luv_DebtInstrumentConvertibleSharesConversionRatio
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Conversion price   $ 615.16us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
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5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | AirTran Airways                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt   115,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)   5.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_ConvertibleDebtDue2016Member
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Conversion ratio   167.5224luv_DebtInstrumentConvertibleSharesConversionRatio
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Extinguishment of debt amount 5,000,000us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
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Repurchase price percentage 100.00%luv_RepurchasePricePercentage
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= luv_ConvertibleDebtDue2016Member
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= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
                       
Conversion option, amount     35,000,000us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeNoLongerBifurcatedAmountReclassifiedToStockholdersEquity
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= luv_ConvertibleDebtDue2016Member
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Unamortized premium     10,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremium
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= luv_ConvertibleDebtDue2016Member
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5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Southwest Airlines                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Cash set aside for conversion 68,000,000luv_CashSetAsideForConversion
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2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt 300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2019MemberMember
                       
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 2.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2019MemberMember
                       
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.84%                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Number of mortgages on secured aircraft               5luv_NumberOfMortgagesOnSecuredAircraft
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= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue07012019Member
         
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)               6.84%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.84% | Maximum                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt               124,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue07012019Member
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
         
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315%                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Number of mortgages on secured aircraft       14luv_NumberOfMortgagesOnSecuredAircraft
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member
                 
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)       6.315%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member
                 
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% | LIBOR                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Spread on variable rate       3.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
                 
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% | Maximum                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt       332,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
                 
Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223%                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Number of mortgages on secured aircraft         21luv_NumberOfMortgagesOnSecuredAircraft
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue2020Member
               
Face amount of debt         600,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue2020Member
               
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)         5.223%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue2020Member
               
Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223% | LIBOR                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Spread on variable rate         0.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24%                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Number of mortgages on secured aircraft                 16luv_NumberOfMortgagesOnSecuredAircraft
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TotalPassThroughCertificatesMember
       
Face amount of debt                 500,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= luv_TotalPassThroughCertificatesMember
       
Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24% | Interest rate derivatives | Cash Flow Hedging                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Notional amount                 20,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
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= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
       
Pass Through Certificates Series A                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt                 412,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= luv_PassThroughCertificatesSeriesAlphaMember
       
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)                 6.15%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= luv_PassThroughCertificatesSeriesAlphaMember
       
Pass Through Certificates Series B                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt                 88,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_PassThroughCertificatesSeriesBMember
       
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)                 6.65%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= luv_PassThroughCertificatesSeriesBMember
       
5.75% Notes due 2016                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt                   300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2016Member
     
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)                   5.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2016Member
     
5.125% Notes due 2017                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt                     300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2017Member
   
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)                     5.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2017Member
   
French Credit Agreements due 2018 - 1.06%                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Number of mortgages on secured aircraft           4luv_NumberOfMortgagesOnSecuredAircraft
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_CreditAgreementsDue2018Member
             
Face amount of debt           112,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= luv_CreditAgreementsDue2018Member
             
Number of identical floating rate financing agreements entered into concurrently with French banking partnerships           4luv_NumberOfIdenticalFloatingRateFinancingAgreementsEnteredIntoConcurrentlyWithFrenchBankingPartnerships
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= luv_CreditAgreementsDue2018Member
             
Term           13 years 0 months 0 days              
French Credit Agreements due 2018 - 1.06% | LIBOR                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Spread on variable rate           (45.00%)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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5.25% Notes due 2014                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt                       350,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2014Member
 
7.375% Debentures due 2027                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Face amount of debt             100,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member
           
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)             7.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member
           
7.375% Debentures due 2027 | Treasury Rate                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Spread on variable rate             20.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= luv_TreasuryRateMember
           
Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate | Fixed-rate 717 Aircraft Notes payable through 2017 - 10.37% | AirTran Airways                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Long-term Debt, Prepayment 7,000,000luv_LongtermDebtPrepayment
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                      35,000,000luv_LongtermDebtPrepayment
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Make Whole Penalty on Debt Extinguishment 6,000,000luv_MakeWholePenaltyonDebtExtinguishment
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Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 10.37%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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Unamortized premium                         $ 5,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremium
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Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate | Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24%                          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                          
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 6.24%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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