COVID-19 PANDEMIC NARRATIVE (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended			21 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) aircraft shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) aircraft shares
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges		$ 363
Leased Aircraft Return Costs	$ 209
Restructuring Charges	(10)	220	$ 0
Special Items - Impairment charges and other	(1)	627	$ 0
Line of credit facility, borrowing capacity	486			$ 486
CARES Act Payroll Tax Relief	$ 21	29
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights | shares	539,508			539,508
PSP Installments Received	$ 1,100			$ 1,100
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Warrant Issued	16
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost Remaining	12	127		12
Payments for Restructuring	(105)
Proceeds From Payroll Support Program Grant	892	753		1,645
Other Asset Impairment Charges		30
Total Expected Relief from PSP of CARES Act				2,270
CARES Act PSP Warrants Issued Value				25
Total Unsecured Term Loan through PSP of CARES Act				600
Proceeds From Payroll Support Program Grant	$ 892	753		1,645
Total Unsecured Term Loan through PSP of CARES Act				600
CARES Act PSP Warrants Issued Value				25
Total Expected Relief from PSP of CARES Act				2,270
CARES PSP1
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Proceeds From Payroll Support Program Grant				757
Total Expected Relief from PSP of CARES Act				1,059
CARES Act PSP Warrants Issued Value				9
Total Unsecured Term Loan through PSP of CARES Act				293
Proceeds From Payroll Support Program Grant				757
Total Unsecured Term Loan through PSP of CARES Act				293
CARES Act PSP Warrants Issued Value				9
Total Expected Relief from PSP of CARES Act				1,059
CARES PSP2
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Proceeds From Payroll Support Program Grant				457
Total Expected Relief from PSP of CARES Act				626
CARES Act PSP Warrants Issued Value				9
Total Unsecured Term Loan through PSP of CARES Act				160
Proceeds From Payroll Support Program Grant				457
Total Unsecured Term Loan through PSP of CARES Act				160
CARES Act PSP Warrants Issued Value				9
Total Expected Relief from PSP of CARES Act				626
CARES PSP3
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Proceeds From Payroll Support Program Grant				431
Total Expected Relief from PSP of CARES Act				585
CARES Act PSP Warrants Issued Value				7
Total Unsecured Term Loan through PSP of CARES Act				147
Proceeds From Payroll Support Program Grant				431
Total Unsecured Term Loan through PSP of CARES Act				147
CARES Act PSP Warrants Issued Value				7
Total Expected Relief from PSP of CARES Act				$ 585
Airbus
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Aircraft Permanently Parked | aircraft	40			40
US Treasury CARES Act Loan
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, borrowing capacity	$ 1,900			$ 1,900
Proceeds from Lines of Credit	$ 135
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Warrant Issued		$ 6