Purchase Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
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	78,400
Percentage Of Employees Represented By Unions Under Collective Bargaining Agreements	16.00%
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Contract carrier agreements, number of contract carriers	9
Capacity purchase agreements number of contract carriers	7
Contract carriers expiration dates	2016 to 2022
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%
Capital Additions [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	6,820
B 737 900ER [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	100
DeliveryDates	2013 and continuing through 2018
B-787-8 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	18
Md90 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	9
A319-100 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Number Of Aircraft Not Included In Aircraft Purchase Commitments	5
A320-200 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Number Of Aircraft Not Included In Aircraft Purchase Commitments	2
Chautauqua [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Fair Value Of Aircraft Under Contract Carrier Agreements	134
Equity Amount To Be Paid On Exercise Of Put Right	25
Shuttle America [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Contract carriers expiration dates	January 2016
Fair Value Of Aircraft Under Contract Carrier Agreements	536
Equity Amount To Be Paid On Exercise Of Put Right	$ 52