DOCUMENT AND ENTITY INFORMATION (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ALASKA AIR GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000766421
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		35,514,972
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 2,500,000,000