Debt, Long-term And Short-term, Combined Amount, Gross

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt, Long-Term Debt Current And Short-Term Debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120520924&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Latest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeEnd1
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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Earliest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeStart1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unamortized debt discount (premium) and debt issuance costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the aggregate of total long-term debt, including current maturities and short-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(19)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(13))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Debt - Summary of Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Debt - Summary of Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total secured and unsecured debt	$ 33,900		$ 9,991
Unamortized premium and debt issuance cost, net and other	(252)		115
Total debt	33,648		10,106
Less: current maturities	(4,738)		(2,054)
Total long-term debt	$ 28,910		8,052
Unsecured notes \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Oct. 01, 2020
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2029
Debt, gross	$ 5,800		5,550
Unsecured notes \| Unsecured Debt \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	2.60%
Unsecured notes \| Unsecured Debt \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	7.38%
Unsecured CARES Act Payroll Support Program Loan \| Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Dec. 31, 2030
Interest rate per annum (percent)	1.00%
Debt, gross	$ 1,648		0
SkyMiles Notes \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Jan. 01, 2023
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2028
Debt, gross	$ 6,000		0
SkyMiles Notes \| Secured Debt \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	4.50%
SkyMiles Notes \| Secured Debt \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	4.75%
SkyMiles Term Loan \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Jan. 01, 2023
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2027
Interest rate per annum (percent)	4.75%
Debt, gross	$ 3,000		0
2020 Senior Secured Notes \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Dec. 31, 2025
Interest rate per annum (percent)	7.00%	7.00%
Debt, gross	$ 3,500		0
2020 Term Loan \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Oct. 01, 2020
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2023
Interest rate per annum (percent)	5.75%
Debt, gross	$ 1,496		0
2018 Revolving Credit Facility \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Jan. 01, 2021
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2023
Interest rate per annum (percent)	3.75%
Debt, gross	$ 2,350		0
2020 Secured Term Loan Facility \| Secured Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Dec. 31, 2021
Debt, gross	$ 2,950		0
2020 Secured Term Loan Facility \| Secured Term Loan \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	2.39%
2020 Secured Term Loan Facility \| Secured Term Loan \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	2.41%
Financing secured by aircraft - Certificates \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Oct. 01, 2020
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2028
Debt, gross	$ 2,686		1,669
Financing secured by aircraft - Certificates \| Secured Debt \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	2.00%
Financing secured by aircraft - Certificates \| Secured Debt \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	8.02%
Financing secured by aircraft - Notes \| Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Oct. 01, 2020
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2032
Debt, gross	$ 1,068		1,193
Financing secured by aircraft - Notes \| Secured Debt \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	0.84%
Financing secured by aircraft - Notes \| Secured Debt \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	5.75%
NYTDC Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2020 \| Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Jan. 01, 2026
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2045
Debt, gross	$ 1,511		0
NYTDC Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2020 \| Bonds \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	4.00%
NYTDC Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2020 \| Bonds \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	5.00%
NYTDC Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2018 \| Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Jan. 01, 2022
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2036
Debt, gross	$ 1,383		1,383
NYTDC Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2018 \| Bonds \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	4.00%
NYTDC Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2018 \| Bonds \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	5.00%
Other financings \| Secured and Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Oct. 01, 2020
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2030
Debt, gross	$ 241		196
Other financings \| Secured and Unsecured Debt \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	2.51%
Other financings \| Secured and Unsecured Debt \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	8.75%
Other revolving credit facilities \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity dates range, start	Jan. 01, 2021
Maturity dates range, end	Dec. 31, 2022
Debt, gross	$ 267		$ 0
Other revolving credit facilities \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	3.35%
Other revolving credit facilities \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate per annum (percent)	3.75%