Derivatives (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Price Risk Derivatives [Table Text Block]

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

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
(in millions)	2012			2011		2012			2011
Market adjustments for changes in fair value	$	(718	)	$	33	$	(535	)	$	80
Effective portion reclassified from AOCI to earnings	2			74		15			134
(Loss) gain recorded in aircraft fuel and related taxes	$	(716	)	$	107	$	(520	)	$	214

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

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

Hedge Position as of June 30, 2012

(in millions)	Notional Balance			Final Maturity Date	Prepaid Expenses and Other		Other Noncurrent Assets		Other Accrued Liabilities			Other Noncurrent Liabilities			Hedge Derivatives, net
Designated as hedges
Interest rate contracts (cash flow hedges)	$	906	U.S. dollars	May 2019	$	—	$	—	$	(26	)	$	(55	)	$	(81	)
Interest rate contracts (fair value hedges)	$	485	U.S. dollars	August 2022	—		5		(2		)	—			3
Foreign currency exchange contracts	102,599		Japanese yen	November 2014	8		7		(17		)	(4		)	(6		)
	312		Canadian dollars
Not designated as hedges
Fuel hedge contracts	2,682		gallons - heating oil, crude oil, jet fuel and diesel	December 2013	541		125		(839		)	(80		)	(253		)
Total derivative contracts					$	549	$	137	$	(884	)	$	(139	)	$	(337	)

Hedge Position as of December 31, 2011

(in millions)	Notional Balance			Final Maturity Date	Prepaid Expenses and Other		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, jet fuel and diesel	December 2012	570		—		(500		)	—			70
Total derivative contracts					$	577	$	5	$	(585	)	$	(107	)	$	(110	)

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 AOCI to Earnings						Effective Portion Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
(in millions)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Three Months Ended June 30
Fuel hedge contracts	$	2		$	74		$	(2	)	$	(154	)
Interest rate contracts	—			—			(3		)	(11		)
Foreign currency exchange contracts	—			(11		)	(40		)	(33		)
Total designated	$	2		$	63		$	(45	)	$	(198	)
Six Months Ended June 30
Fuel hedge contracts	$	15		$	134		$	(15	)	$	(66	)
Interest rate contracts	—			—			3			7
Foreign currency exchange contracts	(13		)	(22		)	83			26
Total designated	$	2		$	112		$	71		$	(33	)