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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		43luv_ChangeinAccountingEstimateFinancialEffectonPassengerRevenueSpoilageEstimate / us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis = luv_ChangeinSpoilageEstimateDomain
Change in accounting estimate, financial effect on net income, spoilage adjustment		$ 23luv_Changeinaccountingestimatefinancialeffectonnetincomespoilageadjustment / us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateByTypeAxis = luv_ChangeinSpoilageEstimateDomain
Change in accounting estimate,financial effect on earnings per share		$ 0.03luv_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: