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Schedule of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2016 | Nov. 04, 2016 | Oct. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Nov. 05, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Nov. 06, 2014 | 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] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 3,410 |  |  | $ 3,198 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Less current maturities | 566 |  |  | 637 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Less debt discount and issuance costs | 23 |  |  | 20 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt less current maturities | 2,821 |  |  | 2,541 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Lease Obligations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 681 |  |  | $ 395 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | AirTran Airways |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.25% |  |  |  |  |  |
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% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Convertible Debt | AirTran Airways |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 0 |  |  | $ 111 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 0 |  |  | 307 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 301 |  |  | 309 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.125% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
French Credit Agreements due 2018 - 2.23% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 14 |  |  | 25 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 2.23% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2018 - 7.03% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 7.03% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2018 - 7.03% | Notes Payable to Banks | AirTran Airways |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 8 |  |  | 17 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 301 |  |  | 303 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 2.75% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2019 - 6.315% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.315% |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2019 - 6.315% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 106 |  |  | 143 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 6.315% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2019 - 4.84% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.84% |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2019 - 4.84% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 28 |  |  | 36 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 492 |  |  | 494 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 2.65% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2020 - 5.223% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.223% |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2020 - 5.223% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 284 |  |  | 329 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 5.223% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2020 | Notes Payable to Banks | AirTran Airways |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 206 |  |  | 257 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement Due 2021 - 7.94% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 20 |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 7.94% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24% | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 324 |  |  | 340 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 6.24% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement Due 2026 - 2.36% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  |  | 2.36% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Agreement Due 2026 - 2.36% | Notes Payable to Banks |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 215 |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 2.36% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2026 - 3.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) |  | 3.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2026 - 3.00% | Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 300 |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 3.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total | $ 130 |  |  | $ 132 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) | 7.375% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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