OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION (DETAILS) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Airline, Capacity Purchase Arrangements, Percent	100.00%				100.00%
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	$ 974		$ 896		$ 1,828		$ 1,692
Passenger, Regional	200		192		386		374
Total passenger revenue	1,174		1,088		2,214		2,066
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0		0		0		0
Freight and mail	32		30		56		56
Other - net revenue	169		138		327		268
Total Operating Revenues	1,375		1,256		2,597		2,390
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	752		710		1,474		1,398
Economic fuel	360		372		718		753
Total Operating Expenses	1,112		1,082		2,192		2,151
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	5		4		10		9
Interest expense	(12)		(14)		(25)		(29)
Other	9		5		27		10
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	2		(5)		12		(10)
Income (loss) before income tax	265		169		417		229
Air Group Adjusted [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	974	[1]	896	[1]	1,828	[1]	1,692	[1]
Passenger, Regional	200	[1]	192	[1]	386	[1]	374	[1]
Total passenger revenue	1,174	[1]	1,088	[1]	2,214	[1]	2,066	[1]
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Freight and mail	32	[1]	30	[1]	56	[1]	56	[1]
Other - net revenue	169	[1]	138	[1]	327	[1]	268	[1]
Total Operating Revenues	1,375	[1]	1,256	[1]	2,597	[1]	2,390	[1]
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	752	[1]	710	[1]	1,474	[1]	1,398	[1]
Economic fuel	373	[1]	371	[1]	739	[1]	740	[1]
Total Operating Expenses	1,125	[1]	1,081	[1]	2,213	[1]	2,138	[1]
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	5	[1]	4	[1]	10	[1]	9	[1]
Interest expense	(12)	[1]	(14)	[1]	(25)	[1]	(29)	[1]
Other	9	[1]	5	[1]	27	[1]	10	[1]
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	2	[1]	(5)	[1]	12	[1]	(10)	[1]
Income (loss) before income tax	252	[1]	170	[1]	396	[1]	242	[1]
Alaska Mainline [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	974		896		1,828		1,692
Passenger, Regional	0		0		0		0
Total passenger revenue	974		896		1,828		1,692
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0		0		0		0
Freight and mail	31		29		54		54
Other - net revenue	147		120		287		234
Total Operating Revenues	1,152		1,045		2,169		1,980
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	602		569		1,178		1,116
Economic fuel	324		327		642		650
Total Operating Expenses	926		896		1,820		1,766
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	5		4		10		9
Interest expense	(9)		(9)		(17)		(21)
Other	9		6		27		11
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	5		1		20		(1)
Income (loss) before income tax	231		150		369		213
Alaska Regional [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0		0		0
Passenger, Regional	200		192		386		374
Total passenger revenue	200		192		386		374
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0		0		0		0
Freight and mail	1		1		2		2
Other - net revenue	20		16		37		31
Total Operating Revenues	221		209		425		407
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	151		149		302		296
Economic fuel	49		44		97		90
Total Operating Expenses	200		193		399		386
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	(1)		0		(1)		0
Other	1		(1)		0		(1)
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	0		(1)		(1)		(1)
Income (loss) before income tax	21		15		25		20
Horizon [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0		0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0		0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0		0		0
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	87		91		178		186
Freight and mail	0		0		0		0
Other - net revenue	2		2		3		3
Total Operating Revenues	89		93		181		189
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	86		84		172		173
Economic fuel	0		0		0		0
Total Operating Expenses	86		84		172		173
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	(2)		(4)		(6)		(7)
Other	(1)		1		0		1
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	(3)		(3)		(6)		(6)
Income (loss) before income tax	0		6		3		10
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0		0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0		0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0		0		0
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	(87)		(91)		(178)		(186)
Freight and mail	0		0		0		0
Other - net revenue	0		0		0		0
Total Operating Revenues	(87)		(91)		(178)		(186)
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	(87)		(92)		(178)		(187)
Economic fuel	0		0		0		0
Total Operating Expenses	(87)		(92)		(178)		(187)
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	0		(1)		(1)		(1)
Other	0		(1)		0		(1)
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	0		(2)		(1)		(2)
Income (loss) before income tax	0		(1)		(1)		(1)
Special Revenue and Charges [Member]
Operating revenues
Passenger, Mainline	0		0		0		0
Passenger, Regional	0		0		0		0
Total passenger revenue	0		0		0		0
Segment Reporting Information, Intersegment Revenue	0		0		0		0
Freight and mail	0		0		0		0
Other - net revenue	0		0		0		0
Total Operating Revenues	0		0		0		0
Operating expenses
Operating expenses, excluding fuel	0		0		0		0
Economic fuel	(13)	[2]	1	[2]	(21)	[2]	13	[2]
Total Operating Expenses	(13)	[2]	1	[2]	(21)	[2]	13	[2]
Nonoperating income (expense)
Interest income	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Other	0		0		0		0
Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total	0		0		0		0
Income (loss) before income tax	$ 13	[2]	$ (1)	[2]	$ 21	[2]	$ (13)	[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.