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Revenue - Air Traffic Liability Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Air Traffic Liability Roll Forward
ATL, beginning balance	$ 5,070	$ 4,565
Current Period Sales	5,704	5,407
Revenue amounts in beginning balance	(2,008)	(1,831)
Revenue from Current Period Sales	(2,752)	(2,711)
ATL, ending balance	$ 6,014	$ 5,430

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- Definition

Current Period Sales

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Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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- Definition

Air Traffic Liability - Revenue amounts in beginning balance

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Name:	luv_AirTrafficLiabilityRevenueamountsinbeginningbalance
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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- Definition

Air Traffic Liability - Revenue from Current Period Sales

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Name:	luv_AirTrafficLiabilityRevenuefromCurrentPeriodSales
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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- Definition

Air Traffic Liability Roll Forward

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Name:	luv_AirTrafficLiabilityRollForwardRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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Air Traffic Liability Total

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Name:	luv_AirTrafficLiabilityTotal
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant