Purchase Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contract carrier agreements, number of contract carriers	9
Terms Of Aircraft Lease	the lease would have (1) a rate equal to the debt payments of Chautauqua or Shuttle America for the debt financing of the aircraft calculated as if 90% of the aircraft was debt financed by Chautauqua or Shuttle America and (2) other specified terms and conditions
Rate Of Interest On The Equity To Be Paid On Exercising Put Right	10.00%
Required Cash Reserve for Credit Card Agreements	$ 0
Required Amount of Withholding of Payments for Credit Card Agreements	0
Cash Reserve for Credit Card Processing Agreements	0	0
Amount Withheld for Credit Card Processing Agreements	0	0
Entity Number of Employees	79,700
Percentage Of Employees Represented By Unions Under Collective Bargaining Agreements	16.00%
B 737 900ER [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Minimum Quantity Required	100
B Seven Eighty Seven Eight Aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Minimum Quantity Required	18
MD-90 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Minimum Quantity Required	11
A319-100 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Quantity Excluded	5
A320-200 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Quantity Excluded	2
Chautauqua [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Fair Value Of Aircraft Under Contract Carrier Agreements	140
Equity Amount To Be Paid On Exercise Of Put Right	25
Shuttle America [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Fair Value Of Aircraft Under Contract Carrier Agreements	430
Equity Amount To Be Paid On Exercise Of Put Right	$ 52