Schedule of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Nov. 06, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2009	Jul. 01, 2009	Apr. 29, 2009	May. 06, 2008	Dec. 31, 2006	Feb. 28, 2005	Feb. 28, 1997
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 3,198	$ 2,713
Less current maturities	637	258
Less debt discount and issuance costs	20	21
Long-term debt less current maturities	2,541	2,434
Capital Lease Obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	395	199
5.75% Notes due 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)									5.75%
5.75% Notes due 2016 | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 307	$ 313
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	5.75%
5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | AirTran Airways
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)					5.25%
5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Convertible Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	5.25%	5.25%		5.25%
5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 | Convertible Debt | AirTran Airways
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 111	$ 113
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	5.25%
5.125% Notes due 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)										5.125%
5.125% Notes due 2017 | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 309	316
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	5.125%
French Credit Agreements due 2018 - 1.53% | Notes Payable to Banks
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 25	36
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	1.53%
Fixed-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2018 - 7.02% | Notes Payable to Banks | AirTran Airways
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 17	24
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	7.02%
2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)			2.75%
2.75% Unsecured Senior Notes Due 2019 | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 303	300
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	2.75%
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)							6.315%
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 6.315% | Notes Payable to Banks
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 143	178
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	6.315%
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 4.84%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)						4.84%
Term Loan Agreement due 2019 - 4.84% | Notes Payable to Banks
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 36	73
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	4.84%
2.65% Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	2.65%
2.65% Notes due 2020 | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 494	0
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	2.65%
Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)								5.223%
Term Loan Agreement due 2020 - 5.223% | Notes Payable to Banks
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 329	372
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	5.223%
Floating-rate 737 Aircraft Notes payable through 2020 | Notes Payable to Banks | AirTran Airways
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 257	300
Pass Through Certificates due 2022 - 6.24% | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 340	355
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	6.24%
7.375% Debentures due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)											7.375%
7.375% Debentures due 2027 | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 132	$ 134
Interest rate stated in the debt agreement (in hundredths)	7.375%