Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Required Cash Reserve for Credit Card Agreements	$ 0	$ 0
Required Amount of Withholding of Payments for Credit Card Agreements	0	0
Cash Reserve for Credit Card Processing Agreements	0	0
Amount Withheld for Credit Card Processing Agreements	0	0
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	49.00%
Equity Method Investments	360
Contract carrier agreements, number of contract carriers	7
Contract carriers expiration dates	2016 to 2022
Capacity purchase agreements number of contract carriers	7
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%
B 737 900ER [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	100
Delivery Date	2013 and continuing through 2018
A319-100 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Number Of Aircraft Not Included In Aircraft Purchase Commitments	5
A-320-200 [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Number Of Aircraft Not Included In Aircraft Purchase Commitments	2
B 717 200 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Delivery Date	2013 and continuing through 2015
Other Aircraft Commitments	88
B-787-8 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	18
CRJ 900 [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	56
Md90 aircraft [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	4
Shuttle America [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Contract carriers expiration dates	January 2016
Fair Value Of Aircraft Under Contract Carrier Agreements	497
Equity Amount To Be Paid On Exercise Of Put Right	52
Chautauqua [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Fair Value Of Aircraft Under Contract Carrier Agreements	156
Equity Amount To Be Paid On Exercise Of Put Right	$ 25
Bombardier Aerospace [Member] | CRJ 900 [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	40
Delivery Date	2013 and 2014
Pinnacle Airlines, Inc [Member] | CRJ 900 [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Minimum Quantity Required	16
Delivery Date	2013