ACCOUNTING CHANGES AND NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (Details) (Change in Spoilage Estimate [Domain], USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Change in Spoilage Estimate [Domain]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Change in Accounting Estimate Financial Effect on Passenger Revenue	$ 47,000,000
Change in accounting estimate, financial effect on net income	$ 25,000,000
Change in accounting estimate,financial effect on earnings per share	$ 0.04	$ 0.04

Represents the increase in Passenger revenues, excluding the impact of profit sharing or income taxes, resulting from the change in the spoilage estimate.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration