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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]                
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment           $ 477,000,000    
Inventory reserve for obsolescence $ 47,000,000       $ 46,000,000 47,000,000 $ 46,000,000  
Frequent flyer points and flight credits liability 1,300,000,000         1,300,000,000    
Capitalized computer software, net $ 378,000,000       403,000,000 378,000,000 403,000,000  
Computer software depreciation expense           106,000,000 122,000,000 $ 90,000,000
Advertising costs           $ 218,000,000 207,000,000 208,000,000
Concentration Risk [Line Items]                
The percentage of employees subject to amendable agreements in the current year (in hundredths) 69.00%         69.00%    
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]                
Special revenue adjustment           $ 172,000,000 0 0
Change In Accounting Estimate Financial Effect On Depreciation Expense 2016           89,000,000    
Change in Accounting Estimate Financial Effect on Passenger Revenue   $ 30,000,000 $ 41,000,000 $ 43,000,000 $ 55,000,000 115,000,000 55,000,000  
Change in accounting estimate, financial effect on net income, spoilage adjustment           $ 61,000,000 $ 29,000,000  
Change in accounting estimate,financial effect on earnings per share   $ 0.02 $ 0.03 $ 0.03 $ 0.04 $ 0.09 $ 0.04  
Change On Operating Revenue Net of Special Revenue Adjustment           $ 255,000,000    
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Net Revenue $ 124,000,000 $ 303,000,000       427,000,000    
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Net Income           $ 227,000,000    
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Basic Earnings Per Share $ 0.10 $ 0.24       $ 0.34    
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Diluted Earnings Per Share           0.34    
Change in accounting estimate, financial effect on earnings per share diluted           $ 0.09 $ 0.04  
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Gross carrying amount $ 574,000,000       $ 456,000,000 $ 574,000,000 $ 456,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life (in years)           15 years    
Accumulated amortization 110,000,000       93,000,000 $ 110,000,000 93,000,000  
Amortization of intangible assets           19,000,000 13,000,000 $ 19,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]                
2015 17,000,000         17,000,000    
2016 14,000,000         14,000,000    
2017 13,000,000         13,000,000    
2018 13,000,000         13,000,000    
2019 12,000,000         12,000,000    
Thereafter 89,000,000         89,000,000    
Fuel derivatives                
Accounting Policies [Abstract]                
Total collateral already posted aggregate fair value 835,000,000       266,000,000 835,000,000 266,000,000  
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Fuel derivatives                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Collateral Already Posted, Aggregate Fair Value 600,000,000       198,000,000 600,000,000 198,000,000  
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Interest rate derivatives                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Collateral Already Posted, Aggregate Fair Value 0       0 $ 0 0  
Flight equipment                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Minimum percentage of cost estimated residual value (in hundredths)           2.00%    
Maximum percentage of cost estimated as residual value (in hundredths)           20.00%    
Flight equipment | Minimum                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Property, Plant, and Equipment Useful Life           23 years    
Flight equipment | Maximum                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Property, Plant, and Equipment Useful Life           25 years    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Minimum                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Property, Plant, and Equipment Useful Life           5 years    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Maximum                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Property, Plant, and Equipment Useful Life           30 years    
Ground property and equipment                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Minimum percentage of cost estimated residual value (in hundredths)           0.00%    
Maximum percentage of cost estimated as residual value (in hundredths)           10.00%    
AssetsConstructedForOthers                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Minimum percentage of cost estimated residual value (in hundredths)           17.00%    
Maximum percentage of cost estimated as residual value (in hundredths)           25.00%    
AssetsConstructedForOthers | Minimum                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Property, Plant, and Equipment Useful Life           25 years    
AssetsConstructedForOthers | Maximum                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Property, Plant, and Equipment Useful Life           30 years    
Software | Minimum                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Property, Plant, and Equipment Useful Life           5 years    
Software | Maximum                
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                
Property, Plant, and Equipment Useful Life           15 years    
Passenger Revenue                
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]                
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Current Period Disclosures, Revenue Recognized, Amount           $ (89,000,000)    
Other Revenue [Member]                
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]                
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Current Period Disclosures, Revenue Recognized, Amount           344,000,000    
Special Revenue Adjustment [Member]                
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]                
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Current Period Disclosures, Revenue Recognized, Amount           172,000,000    
Customer relationships/marketing agreements                
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Gross carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets 38,000,000       38,000,000 $ 38,000,000 38,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life (in years)           9 years    
Accumulated amortization 30,000,000       26,000,000 $ 30,000,000 26,000,000  
Trademarks/trade names                
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Gross carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets 36,000,000       36,000,000 $ 36,000,000 36,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life (in years)           6 years    
Accumulated amortization 34,000,000       30,000,000 $ 34,000,000 30,000,000  
Owned domestic slots                
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Gross carrying amount of indefinite-lived intangible assets [1] 303,000,000       303,000,000 303,000,000 303,000,000  
Contract-Based Intangible Assets [Member]                
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Gross carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets [2] 17,000,000       19,000,000 $ 17,000,000 19,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life (in years) [2]           47 years    
Accumulated amortization [2] 3,000,000       5,000,000 $ 3,000,000 5,000,000  
Gate leasehold rights (a)                
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]                
Gross carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets 180,000,000       60,000,000 $ 180,000,000 60,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life (in years)           15 years    
Accumulated amortization $ 43,000,000       $ 32,000,000 $ 43,000,000 $ 32,000,000  
Unionized Employees concentration risk                
Concentration Risk [Line Items]                
The percentage of Company's employees that are unionized and covered by collective bargaining agreements (in hundredths)           83.00%    
[1] Intangible assets primarily consist of acquired leasehold rights to certain airport owned gates at Chicago’s Midway International Airport, takeoff and landing slots (a “slot” is the right of an air carrier, pursuant to regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), to operate a takeoff or landing at a specific time at certain airports) at certain domestic slot-controlled airports, and certain intangible assets recognized from the AirTran acquisition. The increase in Intangible assets during 2015 was primarily due to the acquisition of two additional airport gate rights at Dallas Love Field, which were subleased from United Airlines. The purchase price paid for these airport gate rights was included as a component of Capital expenditures in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
[2] Useful life of leased slots is based on the stated lease term.