Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011
Advertising [Abstract]
Advertising and promotion expenses				$ 424	$ 421	$ 375
Business Realignment Costs [Abstract]
Business Realignment Costs	496	47	13	560
Business Realignment Costs, Net Of Tax				353
Business Realignment Costs, Diluted EPS Impact	$ 1.11			$ 1.11
Business Realignment Costs Paid				180
Number of Employees Accepted Voluntary Buyout				3,600
Percent Employees Departed May 31, 2013				40.00%
Percent Employees To Depart Throughout 2014				35.00%
Percent Employees To Depart on May 31, 2014				25.00%
Capitalized Interest [Abstract]
Interest Costs Capitalized				45	85	71
Dividends Declared [Abstract]
Dividends Payable, Date Declared				Jun. 03, 2013
Dividends Payable Amount Per Share	$ 0.15			$ 0.15
Dividends Payable, Date To Be Paid				Jul. 01, 2013
Dividends Payable, Date Of Record				Jun. 17, 2013
Impairment of Long Lived Assets [Abstract]
Asset impairments Diluted EPS impact				$ 0.20	$ 0.26
Asset impairments, net of tax				63	84
Number of Impaired Airbus A310-200 Aircraft	2			2	18
Number of Impaired Boeing MD10-10 Aircraft	5			5	6
Number of Impaired Airbus A310-200 Aircraft Engines	4			4	26
Number of Impaired Boeing MD10-10 Aircraft Engines	15			15	17
Number of Impaired Airbus A310-300 Aircraft	3			3
Number of Impaired Airbus A310-300 Aircraft Engines	2			2
Number of Idle Aircraft	1			1
Aircraft Idle Term	15 months			15 months
Asset impairments				100	134
Impairment and other charges						89
Other program costs						44
Total program costs						133
Pension And Postretirement Healthcare Plans Equity Impact [Abstract]
Benefit plans adjustments at year-end measurement date, net of tax				(861)	2,400
Property And Equipment [Line Items]
Net property and equipment	18,484			18,484	17,248
Depreciation expense, excluding gains and losses on sales of property and equipment				2,300	2,100	1,900
Depreciable Life Range For Majority Of Aircraft Costs				15 to 30 years
Number of Aircraft With Shortened Depreciable Lives	76			76	54
2013 Incremental Depreciation Expense				69
2014 Projected Incremental Depreciation Expense				74
Stock Based Compensation [Abstract]
Number Of Shares To Be Repurchased in 2014	3,700,000			3,700,000
Treasury Shares [Abstract]
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share				$ 91
Number of Shares Repurchased	2,700,000			2,700,000
Purchase of treasury stock				246	197
Stock Repurchase Program, Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased	10,000,000			10,000,000
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased	10,188,000			10,188,000
Wide Body Aircraft And Related Equipment [Member]
Property And Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives range				15 to 30 years
Net property and equipment	7,191			7,191	7,161
Narrow Body And Feeder Aircraft And Related Equipment [Member]
Property And Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives range				5 to 18 years
Net property and equipment	2,284			2,284	1,881
Package Handling And Ground Support Equipment [Member]
Property And Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives range				3 to 30 years
Net property and equipment	2,311			2,311	2,101
Vehicles [Member]
Property And Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives range				3 to 15 years
Net property and equipment	1,748			1,748	1,411
Computer And Electronic Equipment [Member]
Property And Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives range				2 to 10 years
Net property and equipment	993			993	930
Facilities And Other Property [Member]
Property And Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives range				2 to 40 years
Net property and equipment	$ 3,957			$ 3,957	$ 3,764