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Financial Derivative Instruments - Fuel Hedging (Details)
Dec. 31, 2014
gal
2015  
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]  
Fuel Hedged (in gallons) 0invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount
/ luv_VolumeOfFuelHedgingAxis
= luv_NextYearMember		 [1]
2016  
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]  
Fuel Hedged (in gallons) 885,000,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount
/ luv_VolumeOfFuelHedgingAxis
= luv_YearTwoMember		 [2]
2017  
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]  
Fuel Hedged (in gallons) 757,000,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount
/ luv_VolumeOfFuelHedgingAxis
= luv_ThirdYearMember		 [2]
2018  
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]  
Fuel Hedged (in gallons) 0invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount
/ luv_VolumeOfFuelHedgingAxis
= luv_FourthYearMember		 [1]
[1] In response to the precipitous decline in oil and jet fuel prices during the second half of 2014, the Company took action to offset its 2015 and 2018 fuel derivative portfolios and is now effectively unhedged at current price levels. While the Company still holds derivative contracts as of December 31, 2014, that will settle during 2015 and 2018, the majority of the losses associated with those contracts are substantially locked in. However, if market prices were to increase or decrease significantly related to the 2015 positions prior to these contracts settling, the losses incurred at settlement could be slightly lower or higher than currently expected amounts during that period.
[2] Due to the types of derivatives utilized by the Company and different price levels of those contracts, these volumes represent the maximum economic hedge in place and may vary significantly as market prices fluctuate.