XML 53 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.4.0.3

Fair Value Instruments - Carrying and Estimated Fair Value of Debt (Details) $ in Millions | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
--- | ---
5.75% Notes due 2016 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 305
Stated interest rate | 5.75%
5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Convertible Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 111
Stated interest rate | 5.25%
5.125% Notes due 2017 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 307
Stated interest rate | 5.125%
French Credit Agreements Due 2018 - 1.53% | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 25
Stated interest rate | 1.53%
Fixed-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2018 - 7.02% | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 15
Stated interest rate | 7.02%
2.75% Notes Due 2019 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 303
Stated interest rate | 2.75%
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 134
Stated interest rate | 6.315%
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 4.84% | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 32
Stated interest rate | 4.84%
2.65% Notes due 2020 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 514
Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223% | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 318
Stated interest rate | 5.223%
Floating-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2020 | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 245
Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24% | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 331
Stated interest rate | 6.24%
7.375% Debentures due 2027 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Carrying amount of debt | $ 131
Stated interest rate | 7.375%
Level 2 | 5.75% Notes due 2016 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | $ 314
Level 2 | 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Convertible Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 335
Level 2 | 5.125% Notes due 2017 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 317
Level 2 | 2.75% Notes Due 2019 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 312
Level 2 | 2.65% Notes due 2020 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 526
Level 2 | Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24% | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | 374
Level 2 | 7.375% Debentures due 2027 | Unsecured Debt |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Loans Payable, Fair Value | 159
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 | 15
Level 3 | Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Loans Payable, Fair Value | 138
Level 3 | Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 4.84% | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Loans Payable, Fair Value | 34
Level 3 | Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223% | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Loans Payable, Fair Value | 313
Level 3 | Floating-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2020 | Notes Payable to Banks |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |
Notes Payable, Fair Value | $ 242

X
- Definition Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Fair value portion of contractual obligation to pay money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LoansPayableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value portion of notes payable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2016Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_ConvertibleDebtDue2016Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2017Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_CreditAgreementsDue2018Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_NotesPayableAircraftFixedRateThrough2018Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2019MemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_TermLoanAgreementDue07012019Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2020Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_TermLoanAgreementDue2020Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_NotesPayableAircraftFloatingRateThrough2020Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_TotalPassThroughCertificatesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_EnhancedEquipmentTrustCertificateMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |