Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsequent Event [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2012 Pacific Facilities [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Pacific Term Loan B1 [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Rate	Sep. 30, 2012 Pacific Term Loan B2 [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Rate	Sep. 30, 2012 2012 Pacific Revolving Facility [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Pacific Routes Term Facility [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Rate	Sep. 30, 2012 Pacific Routes Revolving Facility [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Secured Notes [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Rate	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Second Lien Notes [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Rate
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date					Oct. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					5.25%	4.25%		4.25%		9.50%	12.25%
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 1,500	$ 2,000	$ 1,100	$ 400
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount			1,152					246		600	306
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity							450		500
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Percentage Of Principal			0.01
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	$ 391	$ 318					$ 0		$ 0
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description				Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio 1.20:1; Minimum Unrestricted Liquidity - Unrestricted cash, permitted investments, and undrawn revolving credit facilities $2.0 billion; Minimum Collateral Coverage Ratio 1.60:1