Derivatives (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value [Table Text Block]

The following tables reflect the fair value asset (liability) positions, notional balances and maturity dates of our hedge contracts:

As of December 31, 2011:

(in millions)	Notional Balance			Final Maturity Date	Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets		Other Noncurrent Assets		Other Accrued Liabilities			Other Noncurrent Liabilities			Hedge Derivatives, net
Designated as hedges
Interest rate contracts (cash flow hedges)	$	989	U.S. dollars	May 2019	$	—	$	—	$	(27	)	$	(57	)	$	(84	)
Interest rate contracts (fair value hedges)	$	500	U.S. dollars	August 2022	—		—		—			(7		)	(7		)
Foreign currency exchange contracts	126,993		Japanese yen	April 2014	7		5		(58		)	(43		)	(89		)
	313		Canadian dollars
Not designated as hedges
Fuel hedge contracts	1,225		gallons - heating oil, crude oil, and jet fuel	December 2012	570		—		(500		)	—			70
Total derivative contracts					$	577	$	5	$	(585	)	$	(107	)	$	(110	)

As of December 31, 2010:

(in millions)	Notional Balance			Final Maturity Date	Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets		Other Noncurrent Assets		Other Accrued Liabilities			Other Noncurrent Liabilities			Hedge Derivatives, net
Designated as hedges
Fuel hedge contracts	1,500		gallons - crude oil	February 2012	$	328	$	24	$	—		$	—		$	352
Interest rate contracts (cash flow hedges)	$	1,143	U.S. dollars	May 2019	—		—		(35		)	(39		)	(74		)
Foreign currency exchange contracts	141,100		Japanese yen	November 2013	—		—		(60		)	(36		)	(96		)
	233		Canadian dollars
Not designated as hedges
Fuel hedge contracts	192		gallons - crude oil and crude oil products	June 2012	27		14		(19		)	(8		)	14
Total derivative contracts					$	355	$	38	$	(114	)	$	(83	)	$	196

Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance [Table Text Block]

Gains (losses) related to our designated hedge contracts, including those previously designated as accounting hedges, are as follows:

	Effective Portion Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to Earnings									Effective Portion Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Fuel hedge contracts	$	233		$	(87	)	$	(1,344	)	$	(166	)	$	153		$	1,268
Interest rate contracts	—			(5		)	—			(8		)	(28		)	51
Foreign currency exchange contracts	(61		)	(31		)	(6		)	7			(73		)	11
Total designated	$	172		$	(123	)	$	(1,350	)	$	(167	)	$	52		$	1,330

The following table shows the impact of fuel hedge gains (losses) for both designated and undesignated contracts on aircraft fuel and related taxes on our Consolidated Statements of Operations:

	Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)	2011		2010			2009
Effective portion reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings	$	233	$	(87	)	$	(1,344	)
Market adjustments for changes in fair value	187		(2		)	(15		)
Gain (loss) recorded in aircraft fuel and related taxes	$	420	$	(89	)	$	(1,359	)