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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) aircraft carriers | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Rent expense | $ 315 | $ 295 | $ 288
Capacity purchase arrangements, Carriers | carriers | 3 |  |
Horizon [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Capacity purchase arrangements, Percent | 100.00% |  |
Aircraft Commitments [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
2017 | $ 926 |  |
2018 | 848 |  |
2019 | 694 |  |
2020 | 354 |  |
2021 | 277 |  |
Thereafter | 361 |  |
Total | 3,460 |  |
Capacity Purchase Agreements[Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
2017 | 76 |  |
2018 | 80 |  |
2019 | 85 |  |
2020 | 90 |  |
2021 | 94 |  |
Thereafter | 676 |  |
Total | 1,101 |  |
Aircraft Leases [Member] |  |  |
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
2017 | 302 |  |
2018 | 316 |  |
2019 | 305 |  |
2020 | 279 |  |
2021 | 242 |  |
Thereafter | 953 |  |
Total | 2,397 |  |
Facility Leases [Member] |  |  |
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
2017 | 123 |  |
2018 | 73 |  |
2019 | 63 |  |
2020 | 57 |  |
2021 | 50 |  |
Thereafter | 171 |  |
Total | $ 537 |  |
B-737 [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Commited to purchase (in aircraft) | aircraft | 54 |  |
Option to purchase additional (in aircraft) | aircraft | 41 |  |
A-320-Neo [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Option to purchase additional (in aircraft) | aircraft | 30 |  |
B737-900ER [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Commited to purchase (in aircraft) | aircraft | 22 |  |
B737 MAX [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Commited to purchase (in aircraft) | aircraft | 32 |  |
Q400 [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Commited to purchase (in aircraft) | aircraft | 33 |  |
E-175 [Domain] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Option to purchase additional (in aircraft) | aircraft | 30 |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | B-737 [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 17 |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | Q400 [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 15 |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | Airbus [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 53 |  |
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member] | E-175 [Domain] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating leases, number of leased assets (in aircraft) | aircraft | 15 |  |
Property Available for Operating Lease [Member] | A321neo [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Number of Optional Additional Units | aircraft | 10 |  |
Capacity Purchase Agreement with SkyWest [Member] | E175 [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Number of Optional Additional Units | aircraft | 8 |  |
Capacity Purchase Agreement with SkyWest [Member] | Property Available for Operating Lease [Member] | E-175 [Domain] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Number of Optional Additional Units | aircraft | 5 |  |
Aircraft Maintenance Deposits [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Other Commitment, Due after Fifth Year | $ 90 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Fifth Year | 63 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Fourth Year | 68 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Third Year | 65 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Second Year | 61 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Next Twelve Months | 59 |  |
Other Commitment | 406 |  |
Aircraft Maintenance and Parts Management [Member] |  |  |
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract] |  |  |
Other Commitment, Due after Fifth Year | 0 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Fifth Year | 40 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Fourth Year | 37 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Third Year | 35 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Second Year | 32 |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Next Twelve Months | 30 |  |
Other Commitment | $ 174 |  |

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