Name:	luv_AircraftMaintenancePayable
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable for fuel. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	luv_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 852
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84165509&loc=d3e56426-112766

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount of obligations incurred classified as other, payable within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124098289&loc=d3e6935-107765

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableTradeCurrent
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Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the obligations incurred through that date and payable for employees' services provided. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124098289&loc=d3e6935-107765

Name:	us-gaap_AccruedSalariesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable for statutory income, sales, use, payroll, excise, real, property and other taxes. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).