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Basis of Presentation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2014
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in accounting estimate, financial effect on net income, spoilage adjustment | $ 22 |  | $ 45 |
Prior Period Adjustment [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment |  | $ (19) |  | $ (31)
Change in Spoilage Estimate [Domain] |  |  |  |
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in Accounting Estimate Financial Effect on Passenger Revenue, Spoilage Estimate | $ 41 |  | $ 85 |
Change in accounting estimate,financial effect on earnings per share | $ 0.03 |  | $ 0.07 |

X
- Definition Represents the increase in passenger revenues resulting from the change in the spoilage estimate. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | luv_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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
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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
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Namespace Prefix: | luv_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
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- References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition The amount of a reclassification adjustment made to prior period financial statement amounts. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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Balance Type: |
Period Type: |