FINANCIAL DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Percent Of Estimated Fuel Consumption Covered By Fuel Derivative Instruments [Line Items]
Percent of Fuel Consumption Hedged (in hundredths)	11.00%				11.00%
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	$ 901	[1]			$ 901	[1]			$ 1,300	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	1,100	[1]			1,100	[1]			1,410	[1]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Premiums paid for fuel derivative contracts	(12)		(26)		(18)		(57)
Current Unrealized Net Gains (Losses) in OCI	(148)				(148)
Cumulative ineffectiveness recognized for unsettled hedges	(19)
Non-investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Cash collateral provided as a percentage of derivative contract value (in hundredths)	100.00%				100.00%
Maximum Sum Of Derivatives Of Counterparty To Be Included In Other	15				15
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
(Gain) Loss recognized in AOCI on derivatives (effective portion)	287		207		145		(115)
(Gain) Loss reclassified from AOCI into income (effective portion)	28	[2]	18	[2]	51	[2]	34	[2]
(Gain) Loss recognized in income on derivatives (ineffective portion)	8	[3]	8	[3]	40	[3]	42	[3]
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	362	[1]			362	[1]			815	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	218	[1]			218	[1]			271	[1]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	539	[1]			539	[1]			485	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	882	[1]			882	[1]			1,139	[1]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Fair Value of fuel derivatives	(140)				(140)
Cash collateral held from (by) CP	(265)				(265)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty A [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Fair Value of fuel derivatives	(59)				(59)
Cash collateral held from (by) CP	(100)				(100)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty A [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Option to substitute LC for aircraft	(340)				(340)
Investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(40)				(40)
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 2	(740)				(740)
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	75				75
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which aircraft or cash collateral is pledged to CP	(340)				(340)
Non-investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(40)				(40)
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 2	(740)				(740)
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	0	[4]			0	[4]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which aircraft collateral is pledged to CP	(340)				(340)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty A [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Option to substitute LC for aircraft	(740)	[5]			(740)	[5]
Investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(340)				(340)
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which aircraft or cash collateral is pledged to CP	(740)	[5]			(740)	[5]
Non-investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(340)				(340)
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which aircraft collateral is pledged to CP	(740)				(740)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty B [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Fair Value of fuel derivatives	(72)				(72)
Cash collateral held from (by) CP	(129)				(129)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty B [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Option to substitute LC for aircraft	(125)	[5]			(125)	[5]
Investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	0				0
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 2	(625)				(625)
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	150				150
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which aircraft or cash collateral is pledged to CP	(125)				(125)
Non-investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	0				0
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 2	(625)				(625)
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	0	[4]			0	[4]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which aircraft collateral is pledged to CP	(125)				(125)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty B [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(125)				(125)
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which aircraft or cash collateral is pledged to CP	(625)	[5]			(625)	[5]
Non-investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(125)				(125)
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which aircraft collateral is pledged to CP	(625)				(625)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty C [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Fair Value of fuel derivatives	(65)				(65)
Cash collateral held from (by) CP	(36)				(36)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty C [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Option to substitute LC for cash	(100)				(100)
Investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(50)				(50)
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	200	[6]			200	[6]
Non-investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	0	[4]			0	[4]
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	0	[4]			0	[4]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty C [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Option to substitute LC for cash	(150)	[7]			(150)	[7]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty D [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Fair Value of fuel derivatives	(11)				(11)
Cash collateral held from (by) CP	0				0
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty D [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(75)				(75)
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	125	[6]			125	[6]
Non-investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	0	[4]			0	[4]
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	0	[4]			0	[4]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty E [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Fair Value of fuel derivatives	64				64
Cash collateral held from (by) CP	0				0
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty E [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Option to substitute LC for cash	(50)	[7]			(50)	[7]
Investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	(50)				(50)
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	250				250
Non-investment grade credit rating [Abstract]
Fair value of fuel derivative levels at which cash is provided to CP Threshold 1	0	[4]			0	[4]
Fair value of fuel derivative level at which cash is received from CP	0	[4]			0	[4]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Counterparty Other [Member]
Schedule Of Fair Values Of Fuel Derivatives Amounts Posted As Collateral And Collateral Posting Thresholds [Line Items]
Fair Value of fuel derivatives	3	[8]			3	[8]
Cash collateral held from (by) CP	0	[8]			0	[8]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
(Gain) Loss recognized in AOCI on derivatives (effective portion)	279	[9]	196	[9]	143	[9]	(119)	[9]
(Gain) Loss reclassified from AOCI into income (effective portion)	28	[2],[9]	18	[2],[9]	51	[2],[9]	34	[2],[9]
(Gain) Loss recognized in income on derivatives (ineffective portion)	8	[3]	8	[3]	40	[3]	42	[3]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Derivatives Not in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member] | Other (gains) losses, net [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
(Gain) loss recognized in income on derivatives	40		(150)		(169)		(155)
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Receivable from third parties for settled fuel contracts - noncurrent	54				54				0
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash collateral deposits provided to counterparty - current	135				135				185
Due to third parties for settled fuel contracts	8				8				21
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Other noncurrent liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash collateral deposits provided to counterparty - noncurrent	32				32				41
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Accounts And Other Receivables, Balance Sheet Location [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash collateral deposits provided to counterparty - current	98				98				0
Receivable from third parties for settled fuel contracts - current	0				0				3
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	20	[1]			20	[1]			17	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	7	[1]			7	[1]			0	[1]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	47	[1]			47	[1]			542	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	8	[1]			8	[1]			107	[1]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	72	[1]			72	[1]			97	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	26	[1]			26	[1]			8	[1]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other noncurrent liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	154	[1]			154	[1]			93	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	49	[1]			49	[1]			24	[1]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	53	[1]			53	[1]			124	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	30	[1]			30	[1]			58	[1]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	93	[1]			93	[1]			26	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	100	[1]			100	[1]			272	[1]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	229	[1]			229	[1]			326	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	442	[1]			442	[1]			687	[1]
Fuel hedge derivatives [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other noncurrent liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	164	[1]			164	[1]			9	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	310	[1]			310	[1]			122	[1]
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash collateral deposits provided to counterparty - noncurrent	68				68
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, Underlying Risk	interest rate
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
(Gain) Loss recognized in AOCI on derivatives (effective portion)	8	[9]	11	[9]	2	[9]	4	[9]
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | AirTran Airways [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash collateral deposits provided to counterparty - noncurrent	24				24
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	69	[1]			69	[1]			64	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	[1]			0	[1]			0	[1]
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0	[1]			0	[1]			2	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	0	[1]			0	[1]			0	[1]
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other noncurrent liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset	0	[1]			0	[1]			0	[1]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability	$ 128	[1]			$ 128	[1]			$ 132	[1]
Remainder of 2012 [Member]
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	427,000,000	[10]			427,000,000	[10]
2013 [Member]
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	1,119,000,000	[10]			1,119,000,000	[10]
2014 [Member]
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	1,171,000,000	[10]			1,171,000,000	[10]
2015 [Member]
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	609,000,000	[10]			609,000,000	[10]
2016 [Member]
Volume of Fuel Hedging [Line Items]
Fuel Hedged (in gallons)	277,000,000	[10]			277,000,000	[10]

[1] * Represents the position of each trade before consideration of offsetting positions with each counterparty and does not include the impact of cash collateral deposits provided to or received from counterparties. See discussion of credit risk and collateral following in this Note.

[2] (a) Amounts related to fuel derivative contracts and interest rate derivatives are included in Fuel and oil and Interest expense, respectively.

[3] (b) Amounts are included in Other (gains) losses, net.

[4] (b) Cash collateral is provided at 100 percent of fair value of fuel derivative contracts.

[5] (d) The Company has the option of providing cash, letters of credit, or pledging aircraft as collateral. No letters of credit or aircraft were pledged as collateral with such counterparties as of June 30, 2012.

[6] (c) Thresholds may vary based on changes in credit ratings within investment grade.

[7] (e) The Company has the option of providing cash or letters of credit as collateral. No letters of credit were pledged as collateral with such counterparties as of June 30, 2012.

[8] (a) Individual counterparties with fair value of fuel derivatives <$15 million.

[9] *Net of tax

[10] (a) The Company determines gallons hedged based on market prices and forward curves as of June 30, 2012. Due to the types of derivatives utilized by the Company, these volumes may vary significantly as market prices fluctuate.