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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	$ 453us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 152us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Other, net of deferred taxes	0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	2us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(4)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	(9)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Total comprehensive income	449us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	143us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Deferred taxes on unrealized gain (loss) on other	0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent1	1us-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	72us-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	2us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Deferred taxes on unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]
Reclassification to earnings	5us-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	0us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
AOCI Beginning Balance	41us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Changes in fair value	0luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
AOCI Ending Balance	41us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Other
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax [Roll Forward]
Reclassification to earnings	0us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
AOCI Beginning Balance	8us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
Changes in fair value	0luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherChangesNetOfTaxMember
AOCI Ending Balance	8us-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	435us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
Changes in fair value	30luv_OtherComprehensiveIncomeChangesInFairValueNetOfTax / luv_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxAxis = us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
AOCI Ending Balance	436us-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	48us-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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