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Financial Derivative Instruments Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 05, 2015	Nov. 06, 2014	Apr. 29, 2009	May 06, 2008	Dec. 31, 2006	Feb. 28, 1997
Derivative [Line Items]
Percent of fuel consumption hedged		46.00%
Premiums paid for fuel derivative contracts		$ 153,000,000	$ 124,000,000	$ 62,000,000
Current Unrealized Net Loss in OCI		302,000,000
Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivative instrument		0	12,000,000	$ 0
Maximum sum of derivatives of counterparty to be included in other (less than $10 million)		$ 3,000,000
Cash collateral provided as a percentage of derivative contract value (in hundredths)		100.00%
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	[1]	$ 444,000,000	1,937,000,000
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	[1]	805,000,000	3,465,000,000
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2020 - 5.223%
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt								$ 600,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)								5.223%
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2019 - 6.315%
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)							6.315%
Term Loan Agreement payable through 2019 - 6.315% | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt							$ 332,000,000
7.375% Debentures due 2027
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt										$ 100,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)										7.375%
2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt						$ 300,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)						2.75%
5.75% Notes due 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt									$ 300,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)									5.75%
2.65% Notes due 2020
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt					$ 500,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)					2.65%
Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan Agreement payable through 2020 - 5.223%
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt		$ 600,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)		5.223%
Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan Agreement payable through 2019 - 6.315%
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt		$ 332,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)		6.315%
Unsecured Debt | 7.375% Debentures due 2027
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)		7.375%
Unsecured Debt | 2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt		$ 300,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)		2.75%
Average Floating Rate		1.85%
Unsecured Debt | 5.75% Notes due 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)		5.75%
Unsecured Debt | 2.65% Notes due 2020
Derivative [Line Items]
Face amount of debt		$ 500,000,000
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)		2.65%
Average Floating Rate		2.03%
Fuel derivatives
Derivative [Line Items]
Total collateral already posted aggregate fair value		$ 301,000,000	835,000,000
Interest rate derivatives | AirTran Airways
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount		$ 166,000,000
Interest rate derivatives | AirTran Airways | Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)		4.35%
Interest rate derivatives | AirTran Airways | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)		6.435%
Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	[1]	$ 137,000,000	168,000,000
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	[1]	491,000,000	1,233,000,000
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Fuel derivatives
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	[1]	0	658,000,000
Other Noncurrent Liabilities | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate derivatives
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	[1]	35,000,000	49,000,000
Other Assets | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Fuel derivatives
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	[1]	126,000,000	2,000,000
Other Assets | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate derivatives
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	[1]	$ 0	$ 2,000,000
2017
Derivative [Line Items]
Percent of fuel consumption hedged		63.00%
[1] Represents the position of each trade before consideration of offsetting positions with each counterparty and does not include the impact of cash collateral deposits provided to or received from counterparties. See discussion of credit risk and collateral following in this Note.

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Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

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-Publisher SEC
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Maximum sum of derivatives of a counterparty to be included in Other and no risk of the Company posting collateral.

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Total cash, current and noncurrent, that is already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments.

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The net gain (loss) relating to components of the gain (loss) on price risk fair value hedging instruments excluded from the assessment of fair value hedge effectiveness. Recognized in earnings.

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