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Fair Value Instruments - Carrying and Estimated Fair Value of Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Nov. 06, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Oct. 31, 2009 | Jul. 01, 2009 | Apr. 29, 2009 | May. 06, 2008 | Dec. 31, 2006 | Feb. 28, 2005 | Feb. 28, 1997
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Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 3,198 | $ 2,713 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
5.75% Notes due 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.75% |  |
5.75% Notes due 2016 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 307 | $ 313 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Convertible Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.25% | 5.25% |  | 5.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
5.125% Notes due 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.125% |
5.125% Notes due 2017 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 309 | $ 316 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.125% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
French Credit Agreements due 2018 - 1.53% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 25 | 36 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 1.53% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  | 2.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 303 | 300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 2.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.315% |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 143 | 178 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 6.315% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 4.84% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  | 4.84% |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 4.84% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 36 | 73 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 4.84% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2.65% Notes due 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 2.65% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2.65% Notes due 2020 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 494 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 2.65% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.223% |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 329 | 372 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.223% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24% | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 340 | 355 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 6.24% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
7.375% Debentures due 2027 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7.375%
7.375% Debentures due 2027 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 132 | 134 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 7.375% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 2 | 5.75% Notes due 2016 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | $ 319 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 2 | 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Convertible Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 324 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 2 | 5.125% Notes due 2017 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 321 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 2 | 2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 307 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 2 | 2.65% Notes due 2020 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 493 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 2 | Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24% | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 382 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 2 | 7.375% Debentures due 2027 | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans Payable, Fair Value | 154 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 3 | French Credit Agreements due 2018 - 1.53% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 25 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 3 | Fixed-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2018 - 7.02% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 17 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 3 | Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans Payable, Fair Value | 147 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 3 | Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 4.84% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans Payable, Fair Value | 37 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 3 | Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans Payable, Fair Value | 323 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Level 3 | Floating-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2020 | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 253 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AirTran Airways | 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  | 5.25% |  |  |  |  |  |
AirTran Airways | 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Convertible Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 111 | 113 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AirTran Airways | Fixed-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2018 - 7.02% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 17 | 24 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 7.02% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AirTran Airways | Floating-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2020 | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | $ 257 | $ 300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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