XML 67 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3

Leases (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) aircraft	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) aircraft	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Sublease Income	$ 25,000,000	$ 75,000,000
Sublease income - Remainder of 2019	23,000,000	23,000,000	$ 348,000,000
Sublease income - 2020	78,000,000	78,000,000	357,000,000
Sublease income - 2021	41,000,000	41,000,000	244,000,000
Sublease income - 2022	17,000,000	17,000,000	172,000,000
Sublease income - 2023	7,000,000	7,000,000	$ 146,000,000
Sublease income - 2024	1,000,000	1,000,000
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	$ 533,000,000	$ 533,000,000
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Description | aircraft	16	16
B-717-200
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Number of Units | aircraft	68	68
Finance Leases, Net Investment in Sales Type Leases, Contingent Payments on Leased Property	$ 0	$ 0
Finance Leases, Net Investment in Sales Type Leases, Unguaranteed Residual Values of Leased Property	$ 0	$ 0
Finance Leased Assets, Number of Units | aircraft	2	2
Property Subject To Or Available For Lease, Number Of Units, Total | aircraft	88	88
Owned Assets, Number of Units | aircraft	10	10
Lease Terms For Owned Aircraft		4 years
Minimum | B-717-200
Sublease Terms		1 month
Minimum | 737 MAX 8
Lessee, Renewal Term		8 years
Minimum | Aircraft
Lessee, Renewal Term		1 year
Lessee Operating and Finance Lease Term of Contract		1 month
Minimum | Airport-Related
Lessee Operating Lease Terms of Contract		1 month
Minimum | Other Property
Lessee, Renewal Term		1 year
Lessee Operating and Finance Lease Term of Contract		3 months
Maximum | B-717-200
Sublease Terms		5 years
Maximum | 737 MAX 8
Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Term of Contract	9 years	9 years
Maximum | Aircraft
Lessee, Renewal Term		5 years
Lessee Operating and Finance Lease Term of Contract		12 years
Maximum | Airport-Related
Lessee Operating Lease Terms of Contract		27 years
Maximum | Other Property
Lessee, Renewal Term		5 years
Lessee Operating and Finance Lease Term of Contract		8 years

X

- Definition

Finance Leased Assets, Number of Units

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_FinanceLeasedAssetsNumberofUnits
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Finance Leases, Net Investment in Sales Type Leases, Contingent Payments on Leased Property

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Finance Leases, Net Investment in Sales Type Leases, Unguaranteed Residual Values of Leased Property

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Lease Terms For Owned Aircraft

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_LeaseTermsForOwnedAircraft
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_LesseeOperatingLeaseLeaseNotyetCommenced
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Lessee Operating Lease Terms of Contract

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermsofContract
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Lessee Operating and Finance Lease Term of Contract

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_LesseeOperatingandFinanceLeaseTermofContract
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Lessee, Renewal Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_LesseeRenewalTerm
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due in Six Years

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

The number of units (items of property) owned.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_OwnedAssetsNumberOfUnits
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The number of units (items of property) under lease arrangements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForLeaseNumberOfUnitsTotal
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Sublease Terms

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	luv_SubleaseTerms
Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease not yet commenced, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLeaseNotYetCommencedTermOfContract1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902758&loc=d3e41502-112717

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph (Note 3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82846649&loc=d3e38371-112697

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902758&loc=d3e41502-112717

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph (Note 3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82846649&loc=d3e38371-112697

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902758&loc=d3e41502-112717

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph (Note 3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82846649&loc=d3e38371-112697

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph (Note 3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82846649&loc=d3e38371-112697

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902758&loc=d3e41502-112717

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902758&loc=d3e41502-112717

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph (Note 3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82846649&loc=d3e38371-112697

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The number of units (items of property) under operating lease arrangements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseNumberOfUnits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of sublease income excluding finance and operating lease expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918686-209980

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 53
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888399&loc=SL77918982-209971

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubleaseIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of the unrecorded obligation to transfer funds in the future for fixed or minimum amounts or quantities of goods or services at fixed or minimum prices (for example, as in take-or-pay contracts or throughput contracts).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77896938&loc=d3e25336-109308

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceSheetAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	srt_AircraftTypeAxis=srt_B717200Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	srt_AircraftTypeAxis=luv_B7378MAXMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	luv_PropertyTypeAxis=luv_AircraftMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	luv_PropertyTypeAxis=luv_AirportRelatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	luv_PropertyTypeAxis=srt_OtherPropertyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: