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Income Taxes - Valuation Allowance (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]        
Valuation allowance at beginning of period       $ 10,705us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Valuation allowance at end of period 46us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 177us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 10,963us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 10,705us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Income tax provision        
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]        
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance (9)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_IncomeTaxExpenseMember
(975)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_IncomeTaxExpenseMember
(432)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_IncomeTaxExpenseMember
 
Other comprehensive income tax benefit        
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]        
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance (3)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_OtherComprehensiveIncomeTaxExpenseMember
(1,186)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_OtherComprehensiveIncomeTaxExpenseMember
690us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_OtherComprehensiveIncomeTaxExpenseMember
 
Expirations        
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]        
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance (91)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_CarryforwardExpirationsMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_CarryforwardExpirationsMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_CarryforwardExpirationsMember
 
Release of valuation allowance        
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]        
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance (28)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_ValuationAllowanceReleaseMember
(8,310)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_ValuationAllowanceReleaseMember
0us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_ValuationAllowanceReleaseMember
 
Other        
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]        
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance $ 0us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_OtherValuationAllowanceAdjustmentMember
$ (315)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_OtherValuationAllowanceAdjustmentMember
$ 0us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= dal_OtherValuationAllowanceAdjustmentMember