American Express Relationship (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
American Express Relationship [Text Block]	AMERICAN EXPRESS RELATIONSHIP General. Our agreements with American Express provide for joint marketing, grant certain benefits to Delta-American Express co-branded credit card holders ("Cardholders") and American Express Membership Rewards Program participants and allow American Express to market using our customer database. Cardholders earn mileage credits for making purchases using co-branded cards, may check their first bag for free, are granted access to Delta SkyClub lounges and receive other benefits while traveling on Delta. These benefits that we provide in the form of separate products and services under the SkyMiles agreements are referred to as "deliverables." Additionally, participants in the American Express Membership Rewards program may exchange their points for mileage credits under the SkyMiles Program. As a result, we sell mileage credits at agreed upon rates to American Express for provision to their customers under the co-brand credit card program and the Membership Rewards program. Revenue Recognition. In September 2013, we and American Express modified our SkyMiles agreements. This modification required that we use a different accounting standard for recording SkyMiles sold. Prior to the modifications, we allocated consideration we received from selling miles to American Express among two primary deliverables: credit redeemable for future travel and marketing deliverables. We defer revenue related to the portion of mileage credits redeemable for future travel based on the rate at which we sell mileage credits to other airlines. We recognize these amounts as passenger revenue when miles are redeemed and travel services are provided. We calculated the value of the marketing component based on the residual method and recognize it as other revenue as related marketing services are provided. The September 2013 modifications introduced new deliverables and modified existing deliverables. We concluded that these modifications were material to the SkyMiles agreements. As a result of the material modifications, we are required to use a different accounting standard that allocates the consideration received from selling miles to all deliverables based on their relative standalone sales price. Accordingly, we determined our best estimate of selling prices by considering discounted cash flows analysis using multiple inputs and assumptions, including: (1) the expected number of miles awarded and number of miles redeemed, (2) the rate at which we sell mileage credits to other airlines, (3) published rates on our website for baggage fees, access to Delta SkyClub lounges and other benefits while traveling on Delta and (4) brand value. The effect of this change in accounting standard lowered the deferral rate we use to record miles sold under the agreements. Because we now defer less revenue per mile sold, we expect the revenue impact of the SkyMiles agreement modifications to be insignificant for 2013 and to increase 2014 revenue by less than $100 million. Additionally, upon application of this accounting standard, we were required to adjust the recorded value of miles currently deferred in our Frequent Flyer Liability that originated through the American Express programs. Accordingly, we adjusted the liability in the September 2013 quarter by less than $10 million.

AMERICAN EXPRESS RELATIONSHIP

General. Our agreements with American Express provide for joint marketing, grant certain benefits to Delta-American Express co-branded credit card holders ("Cardholders") and American Express Membership Rewards Program participants and allow American Express to market using our customer database. Cardholders earn mileage credits for making purchases using co-branded cards, may check their first bag for free, are granted access to Delta SkyClub lounges and receive other benefits while traveling on Delta. These benefits that we provide in the form of separate products and services under the SkyMiles agreements are referred to as "deliverables." Additionally, participants in the American Express Membership Rewards program may exchange their points for mileage credits under the SkyMiles Program. As a result, we sell mileage credits at agreed upon rates to American Express for provision to their customers under the co-brand credit card program and the Membership Rewards program.

Revenue Recognition. In September 2013, we and American Express modified our SkyMiles agreements. This modification required that we use a different accounting standard for recording SkyMiles sold. Prior to the modifications, we allocated consideration we received from selling miles to American Express among two primary deliverables: credit redeemable for future travel and marketing deliverables. We defer revenue related to the portion of mileage credits redeemable for future travel based on the rate at which we sell mileage credits to other airlines. We recognize these amounts as passenger revenue when miles are redeemed and travel services are provided. We calculated the value of the marketing component based on the residual method and recognize it as other revenue as related marketing services are provided.

The September 2013 modifications introduced new deliverables and modified existing deliverables. We concluded that these modifications were material to the SkyMiles agreements. As a result of the material modifications, we are required to use a different accounting standard that allocates the consideration received from selling miles to all deliverables based on their relative standalone sales price. Accordingly, we determined our best estimate of selling prices by considering discounted cash flows analysis using multiple inputs and assumptions, including: (1) the expected number of miles awarded and number of miles redeemed, (2) the rate at which we sell mileage credits to other airlines, (3) published rates on our website for baggage fees, access to Delta SkyClub lounges and other benefits while traveling on Delta and (4) brand value. The effect of this change in accounting standard lowered the deferral rate we use to record miles sold under the agreements. Because we now defer less revenue per mile sold, we expect the revenue impact of the SkyMiles agreement modifications to be insignificant for 2013 and to increase 2014 revenue by less than $100 million. Additionally, upon application of this accounting standard, we were required to adjust the recorded value of miles currently deferred in our Frequent Flyer Liability that originated through the American Express programs. Accordingly, we adjusted the liability in the September 2013 quarter by less than $10 million.