Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Notes)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Consistent with these requirements, this Form 10-Q does not include all the information required by GAAP for complete financial statements. As a result, this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes in our Form 10-K. We reclassified certain prior period amounts, none of which were material, to conform to the current period presentation. Management believes the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, including normal recurring items and restructuring and other items, considered necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods presented. Due to seasonal variations in the demand for air travel, the volatility of aircraft fuel prices, changes in global economic conditions and other factors, operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the entire year. On July 1, 2010, we sold Compass Airlines, Inc. (“Compass”) and Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (“Mesaba”), our wholly-owned subsidiaries, to Trans States Airlines Inc. (“Trans States”) and Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (“Pinnacle”), respectively. The sales of Compass and Mesaba did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Upon the closing of these transactions, we entered into new or amended long-term capacity purchase agreements with Compass, Mesaba, and Pinnacle. Prior to these sales, expenses related to Compass and Mesaba as our wholly-owned subsidiaries were reported in the applicable expense line items. Subsequent to these sales, expenses related to Compass and Mesaba are reported as contract carrier arrangements expense. Recent Accounting Standards Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables." The standard (1) revises guidance on when individual deliverables may be treated as separate units of accounting, (2) establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, (3) eliminates the residual method for revenue recognition and (4) provides guidance on allocating consideration among separate deliverables. This guidance applies only to contracts entered into or materially modified after December 31, 2010. We adopted this standard on a prospective basis beginning January 1, 2011. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the timing of revenue recognition or its allocation. We determined that the only revenue arrangements impacted by the adoption of this standard are those associated with our frequent flyer program (the "SkyMiles Program"). The SkyMiles Program includes two types of transactions that are considered revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. As discussed below, these are (1) passenger ticket sales earning mileage credits and (2) the sale of mileage credits to participating companies with which we have marketing agreements. Mileage credits are a separate unit of accounting as they can be redeemed by customers in future periods for air travel on Delta and participating airlines, membership in our Sky Club and other program awards. Passenger Ticket Sales Earning Mileage Credits. The SkyMiles Program allows customers to earn mileage credits by flying on Delta, regional air carriers with which we have contract carrier agreements and airlines that participate in the SkyMiles Program. We applied the new standard to passenger ticket sales earning mileage credits under our SkyMiles Program, as we provide the customers with two deliverables: (1) mileage credits earned and (2) air transportation. The new guidance requires us to value each component of the arrangement on a standalone basis. Our estimate of the standalone selling price of a mileage credit is based on an analysis of sales of mileage credits to other airlines. We use established ticket prices to determine the standalone selling price of air transportation. Under the new guidance, we allocate the total amount collected from passenger ticket sales between the deliverables based on their relative selling prices. We continue to defer revenue from the mileage credit component of passenger ticket sales and recognize it as passenger revenue when miles are redeemed and services are provided. We also continue to record the portion of the passenger ticket sales for air transportation in air traffic liability and recognize these amounts in passenger revenue when we provide transportation or when the ticket expires unused. Sale of Mileage Credits. Customers may earn mileage credits through participating companies such as credit card companies, hotels and car rental agencies with which we have marketing agreements to sell mileage credits. Our contracts to sell mileage credits as a part of these marketing agreements have two deliverables: (1) the mileage credits sold and (2) the marketing component. Our most significant contract to sell mileage credits relates to our co-brand credit card relationship with American Express. The guidance does not apply to our existing contract with American Express or other contracts to sell mileage credits unless those contracts are materially modified. Therefore, we continue to use the residual method for revenue recognition and value only the mileage credits. Under the residual method, the portion of the revenue from the mileage component is deferred and recognized as passenger revenue when miles are redeemed and services are provided. The portion of the revenue received in excess of the fair value of mileage credits sold is recognized in income as other revenue when the related marketing services are provided. We determine the value of a mileage credit based on an analysis of sales of mileage credits to other airlines. If we enter into new contracts or materially modify existing contracts to sell mileage credits related to our SkyMiles Program, we will value the standalone selling price of the marketing component and allocate the revenue from the contract based on the relative selling price of the mileage credits and the marketing component. This could impact our deferral rate or cause an adjustment to our deferred revenue balance, in the case of a modification, which could materially impact our future financial results. Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements In May 2011, the FASB issued "Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs." The standard revises guidance for fair value measurement and expands the disclosure requirements. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Presentation of Comprehensive Income In June 2011, the FASB issued "Presentation of Comprehensive Income." The standard revises guidance for the presentation and prominence of the items reported in other comprehensive income. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Consistent with these requirements, this Form 10-Q does not include all the information required by GAAP for complete financial statements. As a result, this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes in our Form 10-K. We reclassified certain prior period amounts, none of which were material, to conform to the current period presentation.

Management believes the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, including normal recurring items and restructuring and other items, considered necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods presented.

Due to seasonal variations in the demand for air travel, the volatility of aircraft fuel prices, changes in global economic conditions and other factors, operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the entire year.

On July 1, 2010, we sold Compass Airlines, Inc. (“Compass”) and Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (“Mesaba”), our wholly-owned subsidiaries, to Trans States Airlines Inc. (“Trans States”) and Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (“Pinnacle”), respectively. The sales of Compass and Mesaba did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Upon the closing of these transactions, we entered into new or amended long-term capacity purchase agreements with Compass, Mesaba, and Pinnacle. Prior to these sales, expenses related to Compass and Mesaba as our wholly-owned subsidiaries were reported in the applicable expense line items. Subsequent to these sales, expenses related to Compass and Mesaba are reported as contract carrier arrangements expense.

Recent Accounting Standards

Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables

In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables." The standard (1) revises guidance on when individual deliverables may be treated as separate units of accounting, (2) establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, (3) eliminates the residual method for revenue recognition and (4) provides guidance on allocating consideration among separate deliverables. This guidance applies only to contracts entered into or materially modified after December 31, 2010. We adopted this standard on a prospective basis beginning January 1, 2011. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the timing of revenue recognition or its allocation.

We determined that the only revenue arrangements impacted by the adoption of this standard are those associated with our frequent flyer program (the "SkyMiles Program"). The SkyMiles Program includes two types of transactions that are considered revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. As discussed below, these are (1) passenger ticket sales earning mileage credits and (2) the sale of mileage credits to participating companies with which we have marketing agreements. Mileage credits are a separate unit of accounting as they can be redeemed by customers in future periods for air travel on Delta and participating airlines, membership in our Sky Club and other program awards.

Passenger Ticket Sales Earning Mileage Credits. The SkyMiles Program allows customers to earn mileage credits by flying on Delta, regional air carriers with which we have contract carrier agreements and airlines that participate in the SkyMiles Program. We applied the new standard to passenger ticket sales earning mileage credits under our SkyMiles Program, as we provide the customers with two deliverables: (1) mileage credits earned and (2) air transportation. The new guidance requires us to value each component of the arrangement on a standalone basis. Our estimate of the standalone selling price of a mileage credit is based on an analysis of sales of mileage credits to other airlines. We use established ticket prices to determine the standalone selling price of air transportation. Under the new guidance, we allocate the total amount collected from passenger ticket sales between the deliverables based on their relative selling prices.

We continue to defer revenue from the mileage credit component of passenger ticket sales and recognize it as passenger revenue when miles are redeemed and services are provided. We also continue to record the portion of the passenger ticket sales for air transportation in air traffic liability and recognize these amounts in passenger revenue when we provide transportation or when the ticket expires unused.

Sale of Mileage Credits. Customers may earn mileage credits through participating companies such as credit card companies, hotels and car rental agencies with which we have marketing agreements to sell mileage credits. Our contracts to sell mileage credits as a part of these marketing agreements have two deliverables: (1) the mileage credits sold and (2) the marketing component. Our most significant contract to sell mileage credits relates to our co-brand credit card relationship with American Express. The guidance does not apply to our existing contract with American Express or other contracts to sell mileage credits unless those contracts are materially modified. Therefore, we continue to use the residual method for revenue recognition and value only the mileage credits. Under the residual method, the portion of the revenue from the mileage component is deferred and recognized as passenger revenue when miles are redeemed and services are provided. The portion of the revenue received in excess of the fair value of mileage credits sold is recognized in income as other revenue when the related marketing services are provided. We determine the value of a mileage credit based on an analysis of sales of mileage credits to other airlines.

If we enter into new contracts or materially modify existing contracts to sell mileage credits related to our SkyMiles Program, we will value the standalone selling price of the marketing component and allocate the revenue from the contract based on the relative selling price of the mileage credits and the marketing component. This could impact our deferral rate or cause an adjustment to our deferred revenue balance, in the case of a modification, which could materially impact our future financial results.

Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements

In May 2011, the FASB issued "Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs." The standard revises guidance for fair value measurement and expands the disclosure requirements. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Presentation of Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB issued "Presentation of Comprehensive Income." The standard revises guidance for the presentation and prominence of the items reported in other comprehensive income. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.