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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
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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