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Financial Derivative Instruments - Offsetting of Derivative Assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]
Asset derivative contracts, net	$ 4luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralTotal		$ 13luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralTotal
Fuel derivatives | Accrued Liabilities
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]
Gross amounts of recognized assets	1,057us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = luv_AccruedLiabilitiesBalanceSheetLocationMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		1,258us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = luv_AccruedLiabilitiesBalanceSheetLocationMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Gross liability amounts offset in the Balance Sheet	(1,057)luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityOffset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = luv_AccruedLiabilitiesBalanceSheetLocationMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		(1,258)luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityOffset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = luv_AccruedLiabilitiesBalanceSheetLocationMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Asset derivative contracts, net	0luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralTotal / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = luv_AccruedLiabilitiesBalanceSheetLocationMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember	[1]	0luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralTotal / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = luv_AccruedLiabilitiesBalanceSheetLocationMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember	[1]
Fuel derivatives | Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]
Gross amounts of recognized assets	466us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		355us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Gross liability amounts offset in the Balance Sheet	(466)luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityOffset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		(355)luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityOffset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Asset derivative contracts, net	0luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralTotal / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember	[1]	0luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralTotal / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember	[1]
Interest rate derivatives | Other Assets
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]
Gross amounts of recognized assets	4us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember		13us-gaap_DerivativeAssetNotSubjectToMasterNettingArrangement / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Gross liability amounts offset in the Balance Sheet	0luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityOffset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember		0luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityOffset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Asset derivative contracts, net	$ 4luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralTotal / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	[1]	$ 13luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralTotal / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	[1]
[1] The net amounts of derivative assets and liabilities are reconciled to the individual line item amounts presented in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in Note 5.

X

- Definition

Net fair value of financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, elected to be offset against an obligation to return collateral.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value of liability associated with financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, elected to be offset against collateral.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityOffset
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value of financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 22

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226052-175313



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: