Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions		Total	Delta's Plan of Reorganization [Member]	Northwest's Plan of Reorganization [Member]	Merger [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Delta's Plan of Reorganization [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Northwest's Plan of Reorganization [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Merger [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member] Merger [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Period Start at Dec. 31, 2008		$ 874				$ 0				$ 13,714	$ (8,608)	$ (4,080)	$ (152)
Shares, Issued Period Start at Dec. 31, 2008						703							8
Net Income (Loss)		(1,237)									(1,237)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax		517										517
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		(720)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other							36	3
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other			0	0			0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures						3			50
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures		88			(2)	0			0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition										108
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired													3	0
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	[1]												(20)	(2)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period						0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised		5				0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Requisite Service Period Recognition										5
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Period End at Dec. 31, 2009		245				0				13,827	(9,845)	(3,563)	(174)
Shares, Issued Period End at Dec. 31, 2009						795							11
Net Income (Loss)		593									593
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax		(15)										(15)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		578
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other							44	5
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other			0	0			0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures						3
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures		64				0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition										89
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired													2
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	[1]												(25)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period						1
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised		10				0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Requisite Service Period Recognition										10
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Period End at Dec. 31, 2010		897				0				13,926	(9,252)	(3,578)	(199)
Shares, Issued Period End at Dec. 31, 2010						848							13
Net Income (Loss)		854									854
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax		(3,188)										(3,188)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		(2,334)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Other							9	1
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other			0	0			0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures						3
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures		40				0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition										72
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired													3
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	[1]												(32)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period						0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised		1				0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Requisite Service Period Recognition										1
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Period End at Dec. 31, 2011		$ (1,396)				$ 0				$ 13,999	$ (8,398)	$ (6,766)	$ (231)
Shares, Issued Period End at Dec. 31, 2011						861							16

[1] Weighted average price per share