OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION (DETAILS) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	$ 854		$ 796
Passenger, Regional	186		182
Total passenger revenue	1,040		978
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0		0
Freight and mail	24		26
Other - net revenue	158		129
Total Operating Revenues	1,222		1,133
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	723		688
Economic fuel	358		381
Total Operating Expenses	1,081		1,069
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	5		4
Interest expense	(12)		(16)
Other	18		7
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	11		(5)
Income (loss) before income tax	152		59
Air Group Adjusted [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	854	[1]	796	[1]
Passenger, Regional	186	[1]	182	[1]
Total passenger revenue	1,040	[1]	978	[1]
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0	[1]	0	[1]
Freight and mail	24	[1]	26	[1]
Other - net revenue	158	[1]	129	[1]
Total Operating Revenues	1,222	[1]	1,133	[1]
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	723	[1]	688	[1]
Economic fuel	366	[1]	369	[1]
Total Operating Expenses	1,089	[1]	1,057	[1]
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	5	[1]	4	[1]
Interest expense	(12)	[1]	(16)	[1]
Other	18	[1]	7	[1]
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	11	[1]	(5)	[1]
Income (loss) before income tax	144	[1]	71	[1]
Alaska Mainline [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	854		796
Passenger, Regional	0		0
Total passenger revenue	854		796
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0		0
Freight and mail	23		25
Other - net revenue	140		113
Total Operating Revenues	1,017		934
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	576		547
Economic fuel	318		323
Total Operating Expenses	894		870
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	5		4
Interest expense	(8)		(11)
Other	18		6
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	15		(1)
Income (loss) before income tax	138		63
Alaska Regional [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0
Passenger, Regional	186		182
Total passenger revenue	186		182
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0		0
Freight and mail	1		1
Other - net revenue	17		14
Total Operating Revenues	204		197
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	151		147
Economic fuel	48		46
Total Operating Expenses	199		193
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0
Interest expense	0		0
Other	(1)		0
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(1)		0
Income (loss) before income tax	4		4
Horizon [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	91		94
Freight and mail	0		0
Other - net revenue	1		2
Total Operating Revenues	92		96
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	86		89
Economic fuel	0		0
Total Operating Expenses	86		89
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0
Interest expense	(4)		(3)
Other	1		0
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(3)		(3)
Income (loss) before income tax	3		4
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	(91)		(94)
Freight and mail	0		0
Other - net revenue	0		0
Total Operating Revenues	(91)		(94)
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	(90)		(95)
Economic fuel	0		0
Total Operating Expenses	(90)		(95)
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0
Interest expense	0		(2)
Other	0		1
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	0		(1)
Income (loss) before income tax	(1)		0
Special Revenue and Charges [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0		0
Freight and mail	0		0
Other - net revenue	0		0
Total Operating Revenues	0		0
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	0		0
Economic fuel	(8)	[2]	12	[2]
Total Operating Expenses	(8)	[2]	12	[2]
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0
Interest expense	0		0
Other	0		0
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	0		0
Income (loss) before income tax	$ 8	[2]	$ (12)	[2]

[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 charges.

[2] Includes mark-to-market fuel-hedge accounting charges.