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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]              
Inventory reserve for obsolescence     $ 47,000,000   $ 57,000,000 $ 47,000,000  
Frequent Flier Liability, Current     1,300,000,000   1,400,000,000 1,300,000,000  
Capitalized computer software, net     378,000,000   544,000,000 378,000,000  
Computer software depreciation expense         111,000,000 106,000,000 $ 122,000,000
Capitalized computer software, Impairments         0 0 0
Advertising costs         232,000,000 218,000,000 207,000,000
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]              
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Operating Results $ 137,000,000 $ 115,000,000 $ 124,000,000 $ 303,000,000 544,000,000 427,000,000  
Change in Accounting Estimate Financial Effect on Depreciation Expense, Depreciation Estimate         123,000,000    
Special revenue adjustment         0 172,000,000 0
Change In Accounting Estimate Financial Effect On Depreciation Expense 2017         21,000,000    
Change in Accounting Estimate Financial Effect on Passenger Revenue           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           $ 0.09 $ 0.04
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Net Income         $ 293,000,000 $ 227,000,000  
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Basic Earnings Per Share $ 0.12 $ 0.10 $ 0.10 $ 0.24 $ 0.47 $ 0.34  
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.11 $ 0.09 $ 0.10 $ 0.24 $ 0.46 0.34  
Change in accounting estimate, financial effect on earnings per share diluted           $ 0.09 $ 0.04
Change in Accounting Estimate, Financial Effect on Net Income, Depreciation Adjustment [1]         $ (66,000,000)    
Change in Accounting Estimate, Financial Effect on Net Income Per Share, Depreciation Estimate         $ (0.11)    
ChangeinAccountingEstimateFinancialEffectonNetIncomePerShareDilutedDepreciationEstimate         $ (0.10)    
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]              
Gross carrying amount     $ 574,000,000   $ 549,000,000 $ 574,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life (in years)         13 years    
Accumulated amortization     110,000,000   $ 123,000,000 110,000,000  
Amortization of intangible assets         17,000,000 19,000,000 $ 13,000,000
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)         21,000,000 0 $ 0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]              
2017         13,000,000    
2018         13,000,000    
2019         13,000,000    
2020         12,000,000    
2021         12,000,000    
Thereafter         68,000,000    
Fuel derivatives              
Accounting Policies [Abstract]              
Total collateral already posted aggregate fair value     835,000,000   301,000,000 835,000,000  
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Fuel derivatives              
Accounting Policies [Abstract]              
Collateral Already Posted, Aggregate Fair Value     600,000,000   0 600,000,000  
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Interest rate derivatives              
Accounting Policies [Abstract]              
Collateral Already Posted, Aggregate Fair Value     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, Effect of Change on Operating Results         $ (250,000,000) (89,000,000)  
Other Revenue [Member]              
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]              
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Operating Results         794,000,000 344,000,000  
Special Revenue Adjustment [Member]              
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]              
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Operating Results         0 172,000,000  
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  
Weighted-average useful life (in years)         9 years    
Accumulated amortization     30,000,000   $ 32,000,000 30,000,000  
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  
Weighted-average useful life (in years)         6 years    
Accumulated amortization     34,000,000   $ 36,000,000 34,000,000  
Owned domestic slots              
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]              
Gross carrying amount of indefinite-lived intangible assets [2]     303,000,000   295,000,000 303,000,000  
Leased domestic slots (a)              
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]              
Gross carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets [2]     17,000,000   $ 0 17,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life (in years) [2]         0 years    
Accumulated amortization [2]     3,000,000   $ 0 3,000,000  
Gate leasehold rights (b)              
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]              
Gross carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets [3]     180,000,000   $ 180,000,000 180,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life (in years) [3]         15 years    
Accumulated amortization [3]     $ 43,000,000   $ 55,000,000 $ 43,000,000  
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] net of profitsharing benefit
[2] The Company recorded a $21 million impairment associated with owned and leased slots at Newark Liberty International Airport as a result of the FAA announcement, in April 2016, that this airport was being changed to a Level 2 schedule-facilitated airport from its previous designation as Level 3.
[3] Intangible assets primarily consist of acquired leasehold rights to certain airport owned gates, takeoff and landing slots (a “slot” is the right of an air carrier, pursuant to regulations of the FAA, to operate a takeoff or landing at a specific time at certain airports) at certain domestic slot-controlled airports, and certain intangible assets acquired.