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Fair Value Measurement - Fair Value Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]

Beginning Balance

$ (1,059)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue

Total gains or (losses) (realized or unrealized)

Included in earnings

94us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings

Included in other comprehensive income

(79)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss

Purchases

62us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases

Sales

(48)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales

March 31, 2015

(1,218)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue

The amount of total losses for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at March 31, 2015

(93)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1

Fuel derivatives

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]

Beginning Balance

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= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember

Total gains or (losses) (realized or unrealized)

Included in earnings

93us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings
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Included in other comprehensive income

(79)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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Purchases

62us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
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^[1]

Sales

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^[1]

March 31, 2015

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The amount of total losses for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at March 31, 2015

(93)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
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Auction rate securities

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]

Beginning Balance

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= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember

Total gains or (losses) (realized or unrealized)

Included in earnings

0us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings
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= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember

Purchases

0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
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Sales

0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales
/ luv_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember

March 31, 2015

27us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ luv_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationAxis
= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember

^[2]

The amount of total losses for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at March 31, 2015

0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
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= us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember

Other securities

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]

Beginning Balance

5us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
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Total gains or (losses) (realized or unrealized)

Included in earnings

1us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings
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Included in other comprehensive income

0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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Purchases

0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
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Sales

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The amount of total losses for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets still held at March 31, 2015

$ 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
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[1]	The purchase and sale of fuel derivatives are recorded gross based on the structure of the derivative instrument and whether a contract with multiple derivatives is purchased as a single instrument or separate instruments.
[2]	Included in Other assets in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

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This item represents the amount of the total realized and unrealized gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets); the fair value of which assets and liabilities was or is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in the income statement for financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of purchases of financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of sale of financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

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Fair value of financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income, arising from assets, liabilities and financial instruments classified in shareholders' equity measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (level 3).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

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