XML 45 R29.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Supplemental Financial Information (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017
Table Text Block [Abstract] |
Other Assets |
(in millions) |  | December 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Derivative contracts |  | $ | 136 |  |  | $ | 120 |
Intangible assets, net |  | 413 |  |  | 426 |
Capital lease receivable |  | 76 |  |  | 90 |
Other |  | 161 |  |  | 138 |
Other assets |  | $ | 786 |  |  | $ | 774 |
Accounts Payable |
(in millions) |  | December 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Accounts payable trade |  | $ | 186 |  |  | $ | 138 |
Salaries payable |  | 201 |  |  | 200 |
Taxes payable |  | 203 |  |  | 184 |
Aircraft maintenance payable |  | 38 |  |  | 26 |
Fuel payable |  | 123 |  |  | 95 |
Other payable |  | 569 |  |  | 535 |
Accounts payable |  | $ | 1,320 |  |  | $ | 1,178 |
Accrued Liabilities |
(in millions) |  | December 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Profitsharing and savings plans |  | $ | 579 |  |  | $ | 645 |
Aircraft and other lease related obligations |  | 40 |  |  | 55 |
Permanently grounded aircraft liability |  | 34 |  | (a) | — |
Vacation pay |  | 365 |  |  | 355 |
Contract ratification bonuses |  | 83 |  |  | 188 |
Health |  | 100 |  |  | 96 |
Derivative contracts |  | 1 |  |  | 158 |
Workers compensation |  | 172 |  |  | 183 |
Property and income taxes |  | 57 |  |  | 68 |
Other |  | 346 |  |  | 237 |
Accrued liabilities |  | $ | 1,777 |  |  | $ | 1,985 |
Other Noncurrent Liabilities |
(in millions) |  | December 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Postretirement obligation |  | $ | 275 |  |  | $ | 256 |
Non-current lease-related obligations |  | 85 |  |  | 125 |
Permanently grounded aircraft liability |  | 13 |  | (a) | — |
Other deferred compensation |  | 237 |  |  | 204 |
Derivative contracts |  | 21 |  |  | 35 |
Other |  | 76 |  |  | 108 |
Other noncurrent liabilities |  | $ | 707 |  |  | $ | 728 |
(a) These amounts represent the current and noncurrent portion of the Company's cease-use liability recorded during third quarter 2017, as a result of the Company grounding its remaining leased Boeing 737-300 aircraft on September 29, 2017. The liability reflects the remaining net lease payments due and certain lease return requirements that could have to be performed on these leased aircraft prior to their return to the lessors as of the cease-use date, but does not include the write–off of approximately $15 million in net prepaid rents associated with the aircraft at the grounding date, which were included in the $63 million charge recorded. See Note 7 for further information. This loss related to the grounding of the Classic fleet was recorded to Other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income during third quarter 2017. Approximately $3 million of this liability was paid during fourth quarter 2017.

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the components of accounts payable. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | luv_ScheduleOfAccountsPayableTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | luv_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of other noncurrent liabilities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the components of accrued liabilities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfAccruedLiabilitiesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the carrying amounts of other assets. This disclosure includes other current assets and other noncurrent assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfOtherAssetsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration