Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Schedule of AOCI Components (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, beginning balance	$ (7,311,000,000)		$ (5,130,000,000)
Changes in value (net of tax effect)	10,000,000		7,000,000
Reclassifications into earnings (net of tax effect)	7,000,000	[1]	(16,000,000)	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, ending balance	(7,294,000,000)		(5,139,000,000)
Changes in value, tax effect	(13,000,000)		2,000,000
Reclassification into earnings, tax effect	5,000,000		(9,000,000)
Deferred income tax expense	1,900,000,000
Pension and Other Benefits Liabilities
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, beginning balance	(7,517,000,000)	[2]	(5,323,000,000)	[2]
Changes in value (net of tax effect)	0		0
Reclassifications into earnings (net of tax effect)	39,000,000	[1]	12,000,000	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, ending balance	(7,478,000,000)	[2]	(5,311,000,000)	[2]
Derivative Contracts
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, beginning balance	222,000,000		219,000,000
Changes in value (net of tax effect)	22,000,000		(3,000,000)
Reclassifications into earnings (net of tax effect)	(32,000,000)	[1]	(28,000,000)	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, ending balance	212,000,000		188,000,000
Investments
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, beginning balance	(16,000,000)		(26,000,000)
Changes in value (net of tax effect)	(12,000,000)		10,000,000
Reclassifications into earnings (net of tax effect)	0	[1]	0	[1]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, ending balance	$ (28,000,000)		$ (16,000,000)

[1] Amounts reclassified from AOCI for pension and other benefits liabilities are recorded in salaries and related costs in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. Amounts reclassified from AOCI for derivative contracts designated as foreign currency cash flow hedges and interest rate cash flow hedges are recorded in passenger revenue and interest expense, net, respectively, in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. Amounts reclassified from AOCI for investments are recorded in interest expense, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

[2] Includes $1.9 billion of deferred income tax expense primarily related to pension obligations that will not be recognized in net income until the pension obligations are fully extinguished.