OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION (DETAILS) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	$ 3,490		$ 3,284		$ 2,995
Passenger, Regional	777		746		713
Total passenger revenue	4,267		4,030		3,708
CPA revenues	0		0		0
Freight and mail	113		111		109
Other Net and Special Revenue	776		516		501
Total Operating Revenues	5,156		4,657		4,318
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	2,851		2,666		2,571
Economic fuel	1,467		1,459		1,298
Total Operating Expenses	4,318		4,125		3,869
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	18		19		22
Interest expense	(56)		(64)		(87)
Other	16		27		10
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(22)		(18)		(55)
Income (loss) before income tax	816		514		394
Depreciation	270		264		247
Capital expenditures	566		518		387
Total assets	5,838		5,505
Air Group Adjusted [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	3,490	[1]	3,284	[1]	2,995	[1]
Passenger, Regional	777	[1]	746	[1]	713	[1]
Total passenger revenue	4,267	[1]	4,030	[1]	3,708	[1]
CPA revenues	0		0		0
Freight and mail	113	[1]	111	[1]	109	[1]
Other Net and Special Revenue	584	[1]	516	[1]	501	[1]
Total Operating Revenues	4,964	[1]	4,657	[1]	4,318	[1]
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	2,851	[1]	2,666	[1]	2,532	[1]
Economic fuel	1,475	[1]	1,421	[1]	1,268	[1]
Total Operating Expenses	4,326	[1]	4,087	[1]	3,800	[1]
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	18	[1]	19	[1]	22	[1]
Interest expense	(56)	[1]	(64)	[1]	(87)	[1]
Other	16	[1]	27	[1]	10	[1]
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(22)	[1]	(18)	[1]	(55)	[1]
Income (loss) before income tax	616	[1]	552	[1]	463	[1]
Alaska Airlines [Member]
Nonoperating income (expense)
Depreciation	223	[2]	217	[2]	203	[2]
Capital expenditures	494	[2]	477	[2]	250	[2]
Total assets	5,832	[2]	5,177	[2]
Alaska Mainline [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	3,490		3,284		2,995
Passenger, Regional	0		0		0
Total passenger revenue	3,490		3,284		2,995
CPA revenues	0		0		0
Freight and mail	109		107		105
Other Net and Special Revenue	513		448		431
Total Operating Revenues	4,112		3,839		3,531
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	2,293		2,131		2,015
Economic fuel	1,294		1,238		1,101
Total Operating Expenses	3,587		3,369		3,116
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	18		19		24
Interest expense	(38)		(47)		(72)
Other	25		24		8
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	5		(4)		(40)
Income (loss) before income tax	530		466		375
Alaska Regional [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0		0
Passenger, Regional	777		746		713
Total passenger revenue	777		746		713
CPA revenues	0		0		0
Freight and mail	4		4		4
Other Net and Special Revenue	66		61		62
Total Operating Revenues	847		811		779
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	585		566		544
Economic fuel	181		183		167
Total Operating Expenses	766		749		711
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0		0
Interest expense	0		0		0
Other	(12)		0		0
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(12)		0		0
Income (loss) before income tax	69		62		68
Horizon [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0		0
CPA revenues	368		369		369
Freight and mail	0		0		0
Other Net and Special Revenue	5		7		8
Total Operating Revenues	373		376		377
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	341		338		340
Economic fuel	0		0		0
Total Operating Expenses	341		338		340
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0		0
Interest expense	(14)		(16)		(17)
Other	2		2		2
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(12)		(14)		(15)
Income (loss) before income tax	20		24		22
Depreciation	47		47		43
Capital expenditures	72		41		137
Total assets	840		823
Parent [Member]
Nonoperating income (expense)
Depreciation	0		0		1
Total assets	2,762		1,832
Intersegment Eliminations
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0		0
CPA revenues	(368)		(369)		(369)
Freight and mail			0		0
Other Net and Special Revenue			0		0
Total Operating Revenues	(368)		(369)		(369)
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	(368)		(369)		(367)
Economic fuel	0		0		0
Total Operating Expenses	(368)		(369)		(367)
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0		(2)
Interest expense	(4)		(1)		2
Other	1		1
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(3)		0		0
Income (loss) before income tax	(3)		0		(2)
Total assets	(3,596)		(2,327)
Special Charges [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0		0
CPA revenues	0		0		0
Freight and mail	0		0		0
Other Net and Special Revenue	192	[3]	0		0
Total Operating Revenues	192	[3]	0		0
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	0		0		39	[3]
Economic fuel	(8)	[3]	38	[3]	30	[3]
Total Operating Expenses	(8)	[3]	38	[3]	69	[3]
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0		0
Interest expense	0		0		0
Other	0		0		0
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	0		0		0
Income (loss) before income tax	$ 200	[3]	$ (38)	[3]	$ (69)	[3]

[1] The adjusted column represents the financial information that is reviewed by management to assess performance of operations and determine capital allocations and does not include certain income and charges.

[2] There are no depreciation expenses, capital expenditures or assets associated with purchased capacity flying at Alaska Regional.

[3] Includes accounting adjustments related to Special mileage plan revenue, mark-to-market fuel-hedge accounting charges, and fleet transition and restructuring expenses.