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Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2015
Prior Period Adjustment [Abstract] |  |
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment | $ (12)us-gaap_PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustment |
Change in Spoilage Estimate [Domain] |  |
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items] |  |
Change in Accounting Estimate Financial Effect on Passenger Revenue, Spoilage Estimate |  | 43 luv_ChangeinAccountingEstimateFinancialEffectonPassengerRevenueSpoilageEstimate / us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis = luv_ChangeinSpoilageEstimateDomain
Change in accounting estimate, financial effect on net income, spoilage adjustment |  | $ 23 luv_Changeinaccountingestimatefinancialeffectonnetincomespoilageadjustment / us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis = luv_ChangeinSpoilageEstimateDomain
Change in accounting estimate,financial effect on earnings per share |  | $ 0.03 luv_Changeinaccountingestimatefinancialeffectonearningspershare / us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis = luv_ChangeinSpoilageEstimateDomain

X
- Definition Represents the increase in earnings both basic and diluted per share, net of profit sharing and income taxes, due to the change in the spoilage estimate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | luv_Changeinaccountingestimatefinancialeffectonearningspershare
Namespace Prefix: | luv_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the increase in net income, including the impact of profit sharing and income taxes, resulting from the change in the spoilage estimate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | luv_Changeinaccountingestimatefinancialeffectonnetincomespoilageadjustment
Namespace Prefix: | luv_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the increase in passenger revenues resulting from the change in the spoilage estimate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | luv_ChangeinAccountingEstimateFinancialEffectonPassengerRevenueSpoilageEstimate
Namespace Prefix: | luv_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PriorPeriodAdjustmentAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of a reclassification adjustment made to prior period financial statement amounts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis=luv_ChangeinSpoilageEstimateDomain
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |