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Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items] |  |
Net income | $ 453 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | $ 152 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Other, net of deferred taxes | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent | 2 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Total other comprehensive income (loss) | (4)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | (9)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Total comprehensive income | 449 us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax | 143 us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Deferred taxes on unrealized gain (loss) on other | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent1 | 1 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent1
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |
AOCI Beginning Balance | (738)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
AOCI Ending Balance | (742)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
Fuel derivatives |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items] |  |
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of tax | (3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember | (13)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Deferred taxes on unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives | (1)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember | (7)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |
Reclassification to earnings | 72 us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |
AOCI Beginning Balance | (1,177)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |
Changes in fair value | (76)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |
AOCI Ending Balance | (1,181)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember |
Interest rate derivatives |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items] |  |
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of tax | (1)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember | 2 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Deferred taxes on unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives | 0 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember | 1 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |
Reclassification to earnings | 5 us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |
AOCI Beginning Balance | (45)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |
Changes in fair value | (6)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |
AOCI Ending Balance | (46)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |
Defined benefit plan items |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |
Reclassification to earnings | 0 us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |
AOCI Beginning Balance | 41 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |
Changes in fair value | 0 luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |
AOCI Ending Balance | 41 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |
Other |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |
Reclassification to earnings | 0 us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember |
AOCI Beginning Balance | 8 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember |
Changes in fair value | 0 luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember |
AOCI Ending Balance | 8 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember |
Deferred tax |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |
Reclassification to earnings | (29)us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember |
AOCI Beginning Balance | 435 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember |
Changes in fair value | 30 luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember |
AOCI Ending Balance | 436 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |
Reclassification to earnings | 48 us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
AOCI Beginning Balance | (738)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
Changes in fair value | (52)luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
AOCI Ending Balance | $ (742)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |

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