SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Years	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Cash collateral deposits from counterparties under bilateral collateral provisions		$ 60
Cash collateral deposits to its fuel hedge counterparties	226	125
The percentage of the amount received per flight segment sold that relate to free travel-SWA (in hundreths)	92.00%
The percentage of the amount received per flight segment sold that relate to free travel-AirTran (in hundreths)	100.00%
The percentage of Companys' employees that are unionized and covered by collective bargaining agreements (in hundredths)	82.00%
The percentage of SWA's employees that are unionized and covered by collective bargaining agreements (in hundredths)	82.00%
The percentage of AirTran's employees that are unionized and covered by collective bargaining agreements (in hundredths)	81.00%
The percentage of employees subject to amendable agreements in the current year (in hundredths)	29.00%
Advertising costs	237	202	204
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	205
Weighted average useful life (in years)	14
Accumulated amortization	50
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2012	25
2013	18
2014	15
2015	13
2016	10
2017 and thereafter	73
Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	39
Weighted average useful life (in years)	4
Accumulated amortization	14
Trademarks [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	36
Weighted average useful life (in years)	3
Accumulated amortization	8
Domestic Slots [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	63
Weighted average useful life (in years)	23
Accumulated amortization	4
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	2
Weighted average useful life (in years)	2
Accumulated amortization	1
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	5
Weighted average useful life (in years)	2
Accumulated amortization	1
Lease agreements, asset [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	60
Weighted average useful life (in years)	19
Accumulated amortization	$ 22
Flight equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Minimum Useful Life (in years)	23
Property, Plant and Equipment, Maximum Useful Life (in years)	30
Minimum percentage of cost estimated residual value (in hundredths)	5.00%
Maximum percentage of cost estimated as residual value (in hundredths)	15.00%
Ground property and equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Minimum Useful Life (in years)	5
Property, Plant and Equipment, Maximum Useful Life (in years)	30
Minimum percentage of cost estimated residual value (in hundredths)	0.00%
Maximum percentage of cost estimated as residual value (in hundredths)	10.00%
Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Minimum Useful Life (in years)	5
Property, Plant and Equipment, Maximum Useful Life (in years)	15