Segment Reporting (Operating Revenues By Geographic Region) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Airline services in number of cities									250
Number of countries in which entity operates	50								50
Number of flights per day									3,400
Number of aircrafts in fleet									900
Total consolidated revenues	$ 5,956	$ 6,376	$ 6,114	$ 5,533	$ 5,586	$ 5,842	$ 5,674	$ 5,068	$ 23,979	$ 22,170	$ 19,917
DOT Domestic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenues									13,804	13,081	11,974
DOT Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenues									5,460	4,619	4,114
DOT Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenues									3,499	3,365	2,973
DOT Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenues									$ 1,216	$ 1,105	$ 856