XML 56 R65.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Balance at end of period $ (738)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax $ (3)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Fuel derivatives    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Balance at beginning of period (20)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
(103)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Changes in fair value (1,191)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
(82)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Reclassification to earnings 34us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
165us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Balance at end of period (1,177)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
(20)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Interest rate derivatives    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Balance at beginning of period (58)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(108)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Changes in fair value (10)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
22luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Reclassification to earnings 23us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
28us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Balance at end of period (45)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
(58)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Defined benefit plan items    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Balance at beginning of period 65us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
26us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Changes in fair value (24)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
39luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Reclassification to earnings 0luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentToEarningsNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
0luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentToEarningsNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Balance at end of period 41us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
65us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Other    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Balance at beginning of period 8us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
(8)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
Changes in fair value 0luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
16luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
Reclassification to earnings 0luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentToEarningsNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
0luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentToEarningsNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
Balance at end of period 8us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
8us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
Deferred tax    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Balance at beginning of period 2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
74us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
Changes in fair value 454luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
0luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
Reclassification to earnings (21)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentToEarningsNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
(72)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentToEarningsNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
Balance at end of period 435us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]    
Balance at beginning of period (3)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
(119)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Changes in fair value (771)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
(5)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Reclassification to earnings 36luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentToEarningsNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
121luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentToEarningsNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Balance at end of period $ (738)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
$ (3)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember