XML 50 R53.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Financial Derivative Instruments Narrative (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2013
May 06, 2008
Apr. 29, 2009
Feb. 28, 1997
Dec. 31, 2006
Derivative [Line Items]                
Percent of fuel consumption hedged 34.00%us-gaap_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmountPercentOfRequiredNeedCoverage              
Premiums paid for fuel derivative contracts $ 62,000,000us-gaap_GainLossOnComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfPriceRiskFairValueHedgeEffectiveness $ 60,000,000us-gaap_GainLossOnComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfPriceRiskFairValueHedgeEffectiveness $ 36,000,000us-gaap_GainLossOnComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfPriceRiskFairValueHedgeEffectiveness          
Current Unrealized Net Gains in OCI 219,000,000us-gaap_PriceRiskCashFlowHedgeUnrealizedGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months              
Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivative instrument 0luv_ProceedsFromTerminationOfInterestRateDerivatives 0luv_ProceedsFromTerminationOfInterestRateDerivatives 38,000,000luv_ProceedsFromTerminationOfInterestRateDerivatives          
Maximum sum of derivatives of counterparty to be included in other (less than $20 million) 25,000,000luv_MaximumSumOfDerivativesOfCounterpartyToBeIncludedInOther              
Cash collateral provided as a percentage of derivative contract value (in hundredths) 100.00%luv_CashCollateralPercentOfFairValueFuelDerivativesContracts              
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset 1,360,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset [1] 503,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset [1]   503,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset [1]        
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability 2,409,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability [1] 380,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability [1]   380,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability [1]        
Derivative, Gain on Settlement 56,000,000luv_DerivativeGainonSettlement              
Amount paid for purchases and sales of offsetting derivative instruments 217,000,000luv_Amountpaidforpurchasesandsalesofoffsettingderivativeinstruments              
Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223%                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt         600,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue2020Member		      
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)         5.223%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue2020Member		      
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315%                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)           6.315%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member		    
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% | Maximum                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt           332,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		    
7.375% Debentures due 2027                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt             100,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member		  
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)             7.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member		  
2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt 300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2019MemberMember		              
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 2.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2019MemberMember		              
5.75% Notes due 2016                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt               300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2016Member
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)               5.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2016Member
Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223%                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt 600,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue2020Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember		              
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 5.223%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue2020Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember		              
Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315%                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt 332,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember		              
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 6.315%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_TermLoanAgreementDue05062019Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember		              
Unsecured Debt | 7.375% Debentures due 2027                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt     100,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		          
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 7.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		 7.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		   7.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2027Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		        
Unsecured Debt | 2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt 300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2019MemberMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		              
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 2.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2019MemberMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		              
Average Floating Rate 1.23%luv_AverageFloatingRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2019MemberMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		              
Unsecured Debt | 5.75% Notes due 2016                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Face amount of debt 300,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2016Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		              
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 5.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2016Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		              
Average Floating Rate 2.51%luv_AverageFloatingRate
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= luv_UnsecuredSeniorNotesDue2016Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember		              
Fuel derivatives                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Gain (Loss) On Derivative Due To Loss Of Hedge Accounting 45,000,000luv_GainLossOnDerivativeNetDueToLossOfHedgeAccounting
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		     (15,000,000)luv_GainLossOnDerivativeNetDueToLossOfHedgeAccounting
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		        
Total collateral already posted aggregate fair value 266,000,000luv_TotalCollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		 0luv_TotalCollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		   0luv_TotalCollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember		        
Interest rate derivatives | AirTran Airways                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Notional amount 243,000,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember		              
Interest rate derivatives | AirTran Airways | Minimum                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 4.35%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		              
Interest rate derivatives | AirTran Airways | Maximum                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths) 6.435%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		              
Designated as Hedging Instrument                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset 13,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1] 303,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]   303,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]        
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability 704,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1] 78,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]   78,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]        
Other Assets | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Fuel derivatives                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1] 209,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]   209,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]        
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1] 1,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]   1,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]        
Other Assets | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate derivatives                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset 13,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1] 20,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]   20,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]        
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1] 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]   0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		 [1]        
Other Liabilities | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate derivatives                
Derivative [Line Items]                
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability $ 61,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember		              
[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.