Special Items - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013 AirCraft	Mar. 31, 2012
Special Charges [Line Items]
Severance and benefits	$ 14	$ 49
Number of flight attendants voluntarily on leave	1,300	1,800
Temporary grounding of 787 aircraft charges	11
Gain related to contract termination	5
Loss on sale of asset	2
Number of mechanics offering to retire early		400
Number of aircraft that the company operate	133
Number of aircraft to be sold	30
Depreciation	12
Expected depreciation for full year of 2013	80
Accrual severance and medical costs	62	90
Accrual balance of future lease	$ 5	$ 23

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Name:	us-gaap_Depreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration