$LUV
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO Stock $luv

$luv Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312512049647 Filed on February 09, 2012

Income Statement

Concept	2011 Q4	2011	2010 Q4
Revenue	$4.108B	$15.66B	$3.114B
YoY Change	31.92%	29.36%	14.87%
Cost Of Revenue	$1.840B	$6.911B	$1.186B
YoY Change	55.14%	50.01%	16.05%
Gross Profit	$2.268B	$8.747B	$1.928B
YoY Change	17.63%	16.67%	14.15%
Gross Profit Margin	55.21%	55.86%	61.91%
Selling, General & Admin	$1.384B	$5.326B	$1.150B
YoY Change	20.35%	19.55%	12.63%
% of Gross Profit	61.02%	60.89%	59.65%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$192.0M	$715.0M	$159.0M
YoY Change	20.75%	13.85%	3.25%
% of Gross Profit	8.47%	8.17%	8.25%
Operating Expenses	$2.084B	$14.97B	$1.705B
YoY Change	22.23%	34.63%	12.02%
Operating Profit	$147.0M	$693.0M	$216.0M
YoY Change	-31.94%	-29.86%	29.34%
Interest Expense	$109.0M	-$370.0M	-$3.000M
YoY Change	-3733.33%	52.26%	-117.65%
% of Operating Profit	74.15%	-53.39%	-1.39%
Other Income/Expense, Net		-$370.0M
YoY Change		52.26%
Pretax Income	$255.0M	$323.0M	$213.0M
YoY Change	19.72%	-56.64%	15.76%
Income Tax	$104.0M	$145.0M	$82.00M
% Of Pretax Income	40.78%	44.89%	38.5%
Net Earnings	$152.0M	$178.0M	$131.0M
YoY Change	16.03%	-61.22%	13.91%
Net Earnings / Revenue	3.7%	1.14%	4.21%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.20	$0.23	$0.18
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.20	$0.23	$0.18
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	772.9M shares	774.0M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		775.0M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2011 Q4	2011	2010 Q4
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$3.144B	$3.144B	$3.538B
YoY Change	-11.14%	-11.14%	36.44%
Cash & Equivalents	$829.0M	$829.0M	$1.261B
Short-Term Investments	$2.315B	$2.315B	$2.277B
Other Short-Term Assets	$501.0M	$501.0M	$303.0M
YoY Change	65.35%	65.35%	-19.2%
Inventory	$401.0M	$401.0M	$243.0M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$299.0M	$299.0M	$195.0M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$4.345B	$4.345B	$4.279B
YoY Change	1.54%	1.54%	27.43%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$12.13B	$12.22B	$10.58B
YoY Change	14.64%	14.51%	-0.53%
Goodwill	$970.0M		$0.00
YoY Change
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments
YoY Change
Other Assets	$626.0M	$374.0M	$606.0M
YoY Change	3.3%	-16.7%	118.77%
Total Long-Term Assets	$13.72B	$13.72B	$11.18B
YoY Change	22.7%	22.7%	2.5%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$4.345B	$4.345B	$4.279B
Total Long-Term Assets	$13.72B	$13.72B	$11.18B
Total Assets	$18.07B	$18.07B	$15.46B
YoY Change	16.85%	16.85%	8.37%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$1.057B	$1.057B	$739.0M
YoY Change	43.03%	43.03%	0.96%
Accrued Expenses	$996.0M	$911.0M	$863.0M
YoY Change	15.41%	16.2%	29.77%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$644.0M	$644.0M	$505.0M
YoY Change	27.52%	27.52%	165.79%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$4.533B	$4.533B	$3.305B
YoY Change	37.16%	37.16%	22.63%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$3.107B	$3.107B	$2.875B
YoY Change	8.07%	8.07%	-13.53%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$910.0M	$985.0M	$465.0M
YoY Change	95.7%	78.12%	-21.85%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$4.017B	$4.092B	$3.340B
YoY Change	20.27%	19.37%	-14.8%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$4.533B	$4.533B	$3.305B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$4.017B	$4.092B	$3.340B
Total Liabilities	$8.550B	$11.19B	$6.645B
YoY Change	28.67%	21.3%	-24.62%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$5.395B		$5.399B
YoY Change	-0.07%
Common Stock	$2.030B		$1.991B
YoY Change	1.96%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$324.0M		$891.0M
YoY Change	-63.64%
Treasury Stock Shares	35.05M shares
Shareholders Equity	$6.877B	$6.877B	$6.237B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$18.07B	$18.07B	$15.46B
YoY Change	16.85%	16.85%	8.37%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2011 Q4	2011	2010 Q4
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$152.0M	$178.0M	$131.0M
YoY Change	16.03%	-61.22%	13.91%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$192.0M	$715.0M	$159.0M
YoY Change	20.75%	13.85%	3.25%
Cash From Operating Activities	$371.0M	$1.356B	$269.0M
YoY Change	37.92%	-13.13%	-45.33%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$420.0M	$968.0M	-$95.00M
YoY Change	342.11%	96.35%	-16.67%
Acquisitions		$35.00M
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$355.0M	$0.00	$75.00M
YoY Change	373.33%		-152.45%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$65.00M	-$1.022B	-$20.00M
YoY Change	225.0%	-19.21%	-92.22%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid		$14.00M
YoY Change		7.69%
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net		$225.0M
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-493.0M	-$766.0M	-19.00M
YoY Change	2494.74%	414.09%	-17.39%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	371.0M	$1.356B	269.0M
Cash From Investing Activities	-65.00M	-$1.022B	-20.00M
Cash From Financing Activities	-493.0M	-$766.0M	-19.00M
Net Change In Cash	-187.0M	-$432.0M	230.0M
YoY Change	-181.3%	-393.88%	8.49%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$371.0M	$1.356B	$269.0M
Capital Expenditures	-$420.0M	$968.0M	-$95.00M
Free Cash Flow	$791.0M	$388.0M	$364.0M
YoY Change	117.31%	-63.67%	-39.93%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2011	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	Southwest Airlines Co
CY2011	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2011	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2011	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2011	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2011	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2011-12-31
CY2011	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2011
CY2011	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000092380
CY2011	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2011	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2011	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	Q4
CY2011	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2011Q4	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	9119884998	USD
CY2011Q4	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	772906217	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	18068000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	5395000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	238000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	3107000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	2566000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	644000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	829000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deposits On Flight Equipment DepositsOnFlightEquipment	456000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	4345000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	2315000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Receivables Net Current ReceivablesNetCurrent	299000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1222000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	263000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	1057000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Air Traffic Revenue DeferredAirTrafficRevenue	1836000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	970000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	18068000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Flight Equipment Gross FlightEquipmentGross	15542000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6294000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	18421000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Airline Related Inventory AirlineRelatedInventory	401000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	626000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	910000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	12127000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	808000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	2423000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	6877000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Flight Equipment Gross FlightEquipmentGross	13991000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	2493000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	16343000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	5399000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Sale Leaseback Transaction Deferred Gain Gross SaleLeasebackTransactionDeferredGainGross	88000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	891000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1183000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	465000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	89000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Air Traffic Revenue DeferredAirTrafficRevenue	1198000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	739000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	808000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	6237000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5765000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	15463000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deposits On Flight Equipment DepositsOnFlightEquipment	230000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	2122000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	10578000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	214000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	505000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	606000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	2277000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	15463000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Receivables Net Current ReceivablesNetCurrent	195000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Airline Related Inventory AirlineRelatedInventory	243000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1261000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	4279000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	996000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	863000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	4533000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	3305000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	2875000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Sale Leaseback Transaction Deferred Gain Gross SaleLeasebackTransactionDeferredGainGross	75000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	324000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-224000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-262000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Fuel Costs FuelCosts	5644000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-370000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	-12000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	715000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Landing Fees And Other Rentals LandingFeesAndOtherRentals	959000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-198000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	693000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	323000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt InterestExpenseDebt	194000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Cost And Expense Operating OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	1879000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Passenger Revenue PassengerRevenue	14735000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cargo And Freight Revenue CargoAndFreightRevenue	139000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	.0180
CY2011	us-gaap	Aircraft Rental AircraftRental	308000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	145000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Aircraft Maintenance Materials And Repairs AircraftMaintenanceMaterialsAndRepairs	955000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.23
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.23
CY2011	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	10000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Sales Revenue Net OtherSalesRevenueNet	784000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Labor And Related Expense LaborAndRelatedExpense	4371000000	USD
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CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	-18000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Aircraft Maintenance Materials And Repairs AircraftMaintenanceMaterialsAndRepairs	751000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	286000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Passenger Revenue PassengerRevenue	11489000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	988000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	.0180
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CY2010	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	12000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-243000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-106000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cargo And Freight Revenue CargoAndFreightRevenue	125000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt InterestExpenseDebt	167000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.61
CY2010	us-gaap	Landing Fees And Other Rentals LandingFeesAndOtherRentals	807000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Fuel Costs FuelCosts	3620000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Labor And Related Expense LaborAndRelatedExpense	3704000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Aircraft Rental AircraftRental	180000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.62
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CY2011	us-gaap	Business Combination Integration Related Costs BusinessCombinationIntegrationRelatedCosts	134000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	14965000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	11116000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Passenger Revenue PassengerRevenue	9892000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Cargo And Freight Revenue CargoAndFreightRevenue	118000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Sales Revenue Net OtherSalesRevenueNet	340000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Labor And Related Expense LaborAndRelatedExpense	3468000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Fuel Costs FuelCosts	3044000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Aircraft Maintenance Materials And Repairs AircraftMaintenanceMaterialsAndRepairs	719000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Aircraft Rental AircraftRental	186000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Landing Fees And Other Rentals LandingFeesAndOtherRentals	718000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	616000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Business Combination Integration Related Costs BusinessCombinationIntegrationRelatedCosts	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Cost And Expense Operating OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	1337000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	10088000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	262000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt InterestExpenseDebt	186000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	-21000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	13000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	54000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-98000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	164000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	65000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.13
CY2009	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.13
CY2009	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	.0180
CY2010	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	628000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Business Combination Integration Related Costs BusinessCombinationIntegrationRelatedCosts	8000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	178000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	459000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	99000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	15658000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	12104000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	10350000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4941000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5454000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	505000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	775000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	216000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	20000000	USD
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CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Other Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherNetOfTax	40000000	USD
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CY2011	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	225000000	USD
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CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Conversion Of Convertible Securities StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities	112000000	USD
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CY2011	us-gaap	Dividends Cash DividendsCash	14000000	USD
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CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Other Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeOtherNetOfTax	-29000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	-90000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	-139000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	123000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	133000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts And Other Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsAndOtherReceivables	26000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts And Other Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsAndOtherReceivables	26000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets	196000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets	8000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	253000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	193000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Air Traffic Liability1 IncreaseDecreaseInAirTrafficLiability1	262000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Air Traffic Liability1 IncreaseDecreaseInAirTrafficLiability1	153000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease Cash Collateral From Counterparties IncreaseDecreaseCashCollateralFromCounterparties	-195000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease Cash Collateral From Counterparties IncreaseDecreaseCashCollateralFromCounterparties	265000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-194000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	361000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1385000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1561000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	968000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	493000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	5314000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	4852000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Plans ProceedsFromStockPlans	39000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Plans ProceedsFromStockPlans	55000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Proceeds From Termination Of Interest Rate Derivatives ProceedsFromTerminationOfInterestRateDerivatives	76000000	USD
CY2010	luv	Proceeds From Termination Of Interest Rate Derivatives ProceedsFromTerminationOfInterestRateDerivatives	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities RepaymentsOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecurities	155000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	225000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	8000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-766000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-149000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-432000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	147000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1114000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	35000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Convertible Debt RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt	81000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Convertible Debt RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt	0	USD
CY2011	luv	Amortization Of Deferred Gains On Sale Leaseback Transaction AmortizationOfDeferredGainsOnSaleLeasebackTransaction	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Repayments Of Other Short Term Debt RepaymentsOfOtherShortTermDebt	97000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	135000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Other Short Term Debt ProceedsFromOtherShortTermDebt	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sale Leaseback Transaction Gross Proceeds SaleLeasebackTransactionGrossProceeds	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities RepaymentsOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecurities	557000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Lines Of Credit RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Other Short Term Debt RepaymentsOfOtherShortTermDebt	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	14000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	5362000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1051000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Other Short Term Debt ProceedsFromOtherShortTermDebt	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Sale Leaseback Transaction Gross Proceeds SaleLeasebackTransactionGrossProceeds	0	USD
CY2010	luv	Amortization Of Deferred Gains On Sale Leaseback Transaction AmortizationOfDeferredGainsOnSaleLeasebackTransaction	14000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	5624000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1265000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	-14000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	72000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Amortization Of Deferred Gains On Sale Leaseback Transaction AmortizationOfDeferredGainsOnSaleLeasebackTransaction	12000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts And Other Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsAndOtherReceivables	-40000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentAssets	27000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	59000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Air Traffic Liability1 IncreaseDecreaseInAirTrafficLiability1	81000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease Cash Collateral From Counterparties IncreaseDecreaseCashCollateralFromCounterparties	-90000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-133000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	985000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	585000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	6106000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	5120000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-2000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1569000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	455000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Other Short Term Debt ProceedsFromOtherShortTermDebt	83000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Sale Leaseback Transaction Gross Proceeds SaleLeasebackTransactionGrossProceeds	381000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Plans ProceedsFromStockPlans	20000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Proceeds From Termination Of Interest Rate Derivatives ProceedsFromTerminationOfInterestRateDerivatives	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt And Capital Securities RepaymentsOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecurities	86000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Convertible Debt ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Repayments Of Lines Of Credit RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	400000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	13000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-13000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	330000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-254000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1368000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Lines Of Credit RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Other Short Term Debt RepaymentsOfOtherShortTermDebt	44000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	185000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	13000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	274000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	5000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	152000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Debt Conversion Converted Instrument Amount1 DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1	78000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Significant Noncash Transaction Value Of Consideration Given1 OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1	523000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Debt Conversion Converted Instrument Amount1 DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Significant Noncash Transaction Value Of Consideration Given1 OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Significant Noncash Transaction Value Of Consideration Given1 OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationGiven1	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Debt Conversion Converted Instrument Amount1 DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1	0	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Cash And Cash Equivalents BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentAssetsCashAndCashEquivalents	477000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Restricted Cash BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentAssetsRestrictedCash	6000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Prepaid Expense And Other Assets BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentAssetsPrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssets	234000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	50000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Asset Weighted Average Useful Life AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetWeightedAverageUsefulLife	14	Years
CY2011Q4	luv	Unionized Employees Concentration Risk Percentage Swa UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskPercentageSWA	0.82	pure
CY2011Q4	luv	Unionized Employees Concentration Risk Percentage Airtran UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskPercentageAirtran	0.81	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Name Of Acquired Entity BusinessAcquisitionNameOfAcquiredEntity	AirTran Holdings, Inc.
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Status BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationStatus	Certain estimated values are not yet finalized
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year One FutureAmortizationExpenseYearOne	25000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Two FutureAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	18000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Three FutureAmortizationExpenseYearThree	15000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Four FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFour	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Five FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFive	10000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense After Year Five FutureAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive	73000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	237000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	202000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	204000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Deposit Liabilities Collateral Issued To Its Fuel Hedge Fund Counterparties DepositLiabilitiesCollateralIssuedToItsFuelHedgeFundCounterparties	125000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Deposit Liabilities Collateral Issued To Its Fuel Hedge Fund Counterparties DepositLiabilitiesCollateralIssuedToItsFuelHedgeFundCounterparties	226000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Collateral Received From Fuel Hedge Counterparties CollateralReceivedFromFuelHedgeCounterparties	60000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Asset Amount AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetAmount	205000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Funds Related To Free Travel Percentage Swa FundsRelatedToFreeTravelPercentageSWA	0.92	pure
CY2011	luv	Funds Related To Free Travel Percentage Air Tran FundsRelatedToFreeTravelPercentageAirTran	1	pure
CY2011Q4	luv	Unionized Employees Concentration Risk Percentage UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskPercentage	0.82	pure
CY2011Q4	luv	Percentage Of Employees Subject To Agreements Inthe Current Year PercentageOfEmployeesSubjectToAgreementsIntheCurrentYear	0.29	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Property Plant And Equipment BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1154000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Date Of Acquisition Agreement BusinessAcquisitionDateOfAcquisitionAgreement	May 2, 2011
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amount BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmount	970000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Amortizable Intangible Assets BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizableIntangibleAssets	125000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Deferred Income Taxes Asset Liability Net BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationDeferredIncomeTaxesAssetLiabilityNet	160000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Other Noncurrent Assets BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationOtherNoncurrentAssets	45000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Noncurrent Liabilities Long Term Debt BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationNoncurrentLiabilitiesLongTermDebt	1119000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Noncurrent Liabilities Air Traffic Liability BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationNoncurrentLiabilitiesAirTrafficLiability	354000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Other Noncurrent Liabilities BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	657000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Assets Acquired Liabilities Assumed Net BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAssetsAcquiredLiabilitiesAssumedNet	1041000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Debt Conversion Converted Instrument Shares Issued1 DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1	7000000	shares
CY2011Q4	luv	Stock Consideration Paid Per Share Of Acquirees Stock StockConsiderationPaidPerShareOfAcquireesStock	0.321	shares
CY2011	luv	Business Acquisition Average Acquirer Stock Price Used To Determine Value BusinessAcquisitionAverageAcquirerStockPriceUsedToDetermineValue	11.90
CY2011	luv	Business Acquisition Acquiree Common Stock Value Assigned Per Share BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeCommonStockValueAssignedPerShare	7.57
CY2011Q4	luv	Business Acquisition Acquiree Common Stock Value Assigned Total BusinessAcquisitionAcquireeCommonStockValueAssignedTotal	1000000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Equity Interests Issued Or Issuable Number Of Shares Issued BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestsIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssued	44000000	shares
CY2011Q4	luv	Business Acquisition Number Of Shares Issued As Percentage Of Acquirer Common Shares Outstanding BusinessAcquisitionNumberOfSharesIssuedAsPercentageOfAcquirerCommonSharesOutstanding	0.056	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Cash Paid BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaid	518000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Cash Paid To Redeem Share Based Performance Awards CashPaidToRedeemShareBasedPerformanceAwards	7000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice	3200000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Combination Provisional Information Initial Accounting Incomplete Adjustment Financial Assets BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentFinancialAssets	10000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Combination Provisional Information Initial Accounting Incomplete Adjustment Intangibles BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentIntangibles	-7000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Combination Provisional Information Initial Accounting Incomplete Adjustment Property Plant And Equipment BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentPropertyPlantAndEquipment	3000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Combination Pro Forma Information Revenue Of Acquiree Since Acquisition Date Actual BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationRevenueOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual	2000000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Combination Pro Forma Information Earnings Or Loss Of Acquiree Since Acquisition Date Actual BusinessCombinationProFormaInformationEarningsOrLossOfAcquireeSinceAcquisitionDateActual	-23000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Cash Consideration Paid Per Share Of Acquirees Stock2 CashConsiderationPaidPerShareOfAcquireesStock2	3.75
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Transaction Costs BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityTransactionCosts	134000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Asset Amount Weighted Average Useful Life LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentAssetAmountWeightedAverageUsefulLife	9	Years
CY2011	luv	Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Liability Amount Weighted Average Useful Life LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentLiabilityAmountWeightedAverageUsefulLife	10	Years
CY2011	luv	Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Net Amount Weighted Average Useful Life LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentNetAmountWeightedAverageUsefulLife	10	Years
CY2011Q4	luv	Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Liability Amount LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentLiabilityAmount	-376000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Asset Amount LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentAssetAmount	2000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Amortization Income Of Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment AmortizationIncomeOfLeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustment	26000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Future Amortization Income Of Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Year1 FutureAmortizationIncomeOfLeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentYear1	39000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Future Amortization Income Of Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Year2 FutureAmortizationIncomeOfLeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentYear2	39000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Future Amortization Income Of Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Year3 FutureAmortizationIncomeOfLeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentYear3	39000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Future Amortization Income Of Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Year4 FutureAmortizationIncomeOfLeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentYear4	39000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Future Amortization Income Of Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment Year5 FutureAmortizationIncomeOfLeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentYear5	39000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Future Amortization Income Of Leases Acquired In Place Market Adjustment After Year5 FutureAmortizationIncomeOfLeasesAcquiredInPlaceMarketAdjustmentAfterYear5	155000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets OtherAssets	626000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous OtherAssetsMiscellaneous	121000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	155000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Noncurrent AvailableForSaleSecuritiesNoncurrent	97000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Fair Value Net DerivativeAssetFairValueNet	253000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Net Income Loss BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss	160000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Revenue BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue	16601000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Revenue BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue	14721000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Net Income Loss BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss	499000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Basic BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareBasic	.21
CY2010	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Basic BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareBasic	.63
CY2011	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Diluted BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareDiluted	.21
CY2010	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Pro Forma Earnings Per Share Diluted BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareDiluted	.63
CY2011	luv	Long Term Purchase Commitment Minimum Quantity Required For737 Ng700 Aircraft LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumQuantityRequiredFor737NG700Aircraft	127	Aircrafts
CY2011	luv	Long Term Purchase Commitment Minimum Quantity Required For737 Ng800 Aircraft LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumQuantityRequiredFor737NG800Aircraft	73	Aircrafts
CY2011	luv	Long Term Purchase Commitments Options737 Ng LongTermPurchaseCommitmentsOptions737NG	92	Aircrafts
CY2011	luv	Long Term Purchase Commitments Leased737 Ng800 LongTermPurchaseCommitmentsLeased737NG800	5	Aircrafts
CY2011	luv	Long Term Purchase Commitment Minimum Quantity Required For737 Max Aircraft LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumQuantityRequiredFor737MAXAircraft	150	Aircrafts
CY2011	luv	Long Term Purchase Commitments Options737 Max LongTermPurchaseCommitmentsOptions737MAX	150	Aircrafts
CY2011	luv	Long Term Purchase Commitments Total LongTermPurchaseCommitmentsTotal	597	Aircrafts
CY2011	us-gaap	Long Term Purchase Commitment Amount LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount	12621000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Expected Total Cost Of Airport Project ExpectedTotalCostOfAirportProject	519000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Municipal Bonds Issued MunicipalBondsIssued	310000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Fair Value Net DerivativeAssetFairValueNet	379000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	60000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Noncurrent AvailableForSaleSecuritiesNoncurrent	97000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous OtherAssetsMiscellaneous	70000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets OtherAssets	606000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Compensation Cash Based Arrangements Liability Current DeferredCompensationCashBasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrent	110000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Rent Current AccruedRentCurrent	57000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Vacation Current AccruedVacationCurrent	248000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	85000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Workers Compensation Liability Current WorkersCompensationLiabilityCurrent	162000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Debt Assumed In Aquisition DebtAssumedInAquisition	1100000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	278000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Rent Current AccruedRentCurrent	27000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Vacation Current AccruedVacationCurrent	200000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	79000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Workers Compensation Liability Current WorkersCompensationLiabilityCurrent	142000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	201000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Compensation Cash Based Arrangements Liability Current DeferredCompensationCashBasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrent	171000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Employee Benefits Current AccruedEmployeeBenefitsCurrent	56000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Employee Benefits Current AccruedEmployeeBenefitsCurrent	43000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	107000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Off Market Lease Unfavorable OffMarketLeaseUnfavorable	311000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Total Recorded Lfmp Construction Costs TotalRecordedLfmpConstructionCosts	202000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	290000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	94000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Off Market Lease Unfavorable OffMarketLeaseUnfavorable	0	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Total Recorded Lfmp Construction Costs TotalRecordedLfmpConstructionCosts	86000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	285000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Lease Obligations Noncurrent CapitalLeaseObligationsNoncurrent	39000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	717000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	56000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Interest Included In Payments CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsInterestIncludedInPayments	14000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Present Value Of Net Minimum Payments CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPayments	42000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Lease Obligations Current CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	3000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Letters Of Credit Outstanding Amount LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount	230000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Pledged Assets Separately Reported Securities Pledged As Collateral At Fair Value PledgedAssetsSeparatelyReportedSecuritiesPledgedAsCollateralAtFairValue	2600000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Maximumadditionalnumberofassetspledgedascollateralincaseobligationsrelatedtofuelderivativesexceedcertainthresholds Maximumadditionalnumberofassetspledgedascollateralincaseobligationsrelatedtofuelderivativesexceedcertainthresholds	49	Aircrafts
CY2011Q4	luv	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year One After Current Year LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearOneAfterCurrentYear	627000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	188000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	537000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	207000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	550000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	1500000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Debtdiscountandissuancecosts Debtdiscountandissuancecosts	28000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Debtdiscountandissuancecosts Debtdiscountandissuancecosts	26000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Line Of Credit Amount Terminated LineOfCreditAmountTerminated	100000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leased Assets Gross CapitalLeasedAssetsGross	177000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leased Assets Gross CapitalLeasedAssetsGross	132000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Lessee Balance Sheet Assets By Major Class Accumulated Deprecation CapitalLeasesLesseeBalanceSheetAssetsByMajorClassAccumulatedDeprecation	132000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Lessee Balance Sheet Assets By Major Class Accumulated Deprecation CapitalLeasesLesseeBalanceSheetAssetsByMajorClassAccumulatedDeprecation	125000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Balance Sheet Assets By Major Class Net CapitalLeasesBalanceSheetAssetsByMajorClassNet	45000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Balance Sheet Assets By Major Class Net CapitalLeasesBalanceSheetAssetsByMajorClassNet	7000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leased Assets Number Of Units CapitalLeasedAssetsNumberOfUnits	7	CapitalLeases
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leased Assets Number Of Units CapitalLeasedAssetsNumberOfUnits	5	CapitalLeases
CY2011	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	847000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	631000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	596000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Percentage Of Capacity Reduction PercentageOfCapacityReduction	0.05	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve RestructuringReserve	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve RestructuringReserve	0	USD
CY2011	luv	Frequency That Payments Under Lease Agreements Are Reset FrequencyThatPaymentsUnderLeaseAgreementsAreReset	every six months
CY2011	us-gaap	Sale Leaseback Transaction Lease Terms SaleLeasebackTransactionLeaseTerms	Under the terms of the lease agreements, the Company will continue to operate and maintain the aircraft. Payments under the lease agreements will be reset every six months based on changes in the six-month LIBO rate.
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease Number Of Units PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseNumberOfUnits	192	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	6000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	6000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	6000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	6000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	6000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	26000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Fair Value Disclosure CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure	774000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Cash Equivalents Commerical Paper Fair Value Disclosure CashEquivalentsCommericalPaperFairValueDisclosure	48000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	642000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	579000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	489000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	640000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	2516000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	5583000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Capital And Operating Lease Renewal Term CapitalAndOperatingLeaseRenewalTerm	one to five years
CY2011	us-gaap	Restructuring And Related Activities Initiation Date RestructuringAndRelatedActivitiesInitiationDate	2009-04-16
CY2011	luv	Participants Last Day Or Work Earliest ParticipantsLastDayOrWorkEarliest	July 31, 2009
CY2011	luv	Total Number Of Employees Elected To Participate TotalNumberOfEmployeesElectedToParticipate	1404	Employees
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Restructuring Costs OtherRestructuringCosts	66000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Date Of Hire For Eligible Employees DateOfHireForEligibleEmployees	2008-03-31
CY2011	luv	Participants Last Day Of Work Latest ParticipantsLastDayOfWorkLatest	April 15, 2010
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Nonmonetary Notional Amount Percent Of Required Need Coverage DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmountPercentOfRequiredNeedCoverage	0.38	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	1300000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	1413000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	1410000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	1202000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Us Treasury Securities FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUsTreasurySecurities	2014000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Total Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotalAssets	4579000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Total Liabilities FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotalLiabilities	1531000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities At Fair Value InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue	132000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Price Risk Cash Flow Hedge Unrealized Gain Loss To Be Reclassified During Next12 Months PriceRiskCashFlowHedgeUnrealizedGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months	-93000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Gain Loss On Price Risk Hedge Ineffectiveness And Gain Loss On Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments GainLossOnPriceRiskHedgeIneffectivenessAndGainLossOnPriceRiskDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	-68000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Components Excluded From Assessment Of Price Risk Cash Flow Hedge Effectiveness GainLossOnComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfPriceRiskCashFlowHedgeEffectiveness	-107000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Components Excluded From Assessment Of Price Risk Cash Flow Hedge Effectiveness GainLossOnComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfPriceRiskCashFlowHedgeEffectiveness	-134000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Components Excluded From Assessment Of Price Risk Cash Flow Hedge Effectiveness GainLossOnComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfPriceRiskCashFlowHedgeEffectiveness	-148000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Maximum Sum Of Derivatives Of Counterparty To Be Included In Other MaximumSumOfDerivativesOfCounterpartyToBeIncludedInOther	15000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Non Cash Collateral Pledged Aggregate Fair Value NonCashCollateralPledgedAggregateFairValue	0	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Cash Collateral Percent Of Fair Value Fuel Derivatives Contracts CashCollateralPercentOfFairValueFuelDerivativesContracts	1	pure
CY2011Q4	luv	Auction Rate Securities Lower Remaining Maturity Range AuctionRateSecuritiesLowerRemainingMaturityRange	7	Years
CY2011Q4	luv	Auction Rate Securities Higher Remaining Maturity Range AuctionRateSecuritiesHigherRemainingMaturityRange	36	Years
CY2008Q1	luv	Auction Rate Securities Failed Auction AuctionRateSecuritiesFailedAuction	463000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Auction Rate Securities Sold At Par After Failed Auctions AuctionRateSecuritiesSoldAtParAfterFailedAuctions	382000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Auction Rate Securities Auction Frequency AuctionRateSecuritiesAuctionFrequency	30-35 days
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Losses1 AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLosses1	14000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Long Term Certificates Of Deposit FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisLongTermCertificatesOfDeposit	25000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Short Term Certificates Of Deposit FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisShortTermCertificatesOfDeposit	221000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Cash Equivalent Certificates Of Deposit FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisCashEquivalentCertificatesOfDeposit	7000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Short Term Commerical Paper FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisShortTermCommericalPaper	80000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Interest Rate Derivative Assets At Fair Value InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue	66000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Auction Rate Securities Classified As Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AuctionRateSecuritiesClassifiedAsAvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	67000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Swap Contracts Recorded As Net Asset FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesSwapContractsRecordedAsNetAsset	0	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Option Contracts Recorded As Net Asset FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesOptionContractsRecordedAsNetAsset	709000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Swap Contracts Recorded As Net Liability FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesSwapContractsRecordedAsNetLiability	180000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Option Contracts Recorded As Net Liability FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesOptionContractsRecordedAsNetLiability	345000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Swap Contracts Recorded As Net Asset FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesSwapContractsRecordedAsNetAsset	65000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Option Contracts Recorded As Net Asset FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesOptionContractsRecordedAsNetAsset	371000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Swap Contracts Recorded As Net Liability FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesSwapContractsRecordedAsNetLiability	576000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Option Contracts Recorded As Net Liability FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesOptionContractsRecordedAsNetLiability	266000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Other Available For Sale Securities Net Asset FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherAvailableForSaleSecuritiesNetAsset	43000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Deferred Compensation Liabilities At Fair Value DeferredCompensationLiabilitiesAtFairValue	121000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Fair Value Disclosure CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure	1261000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Us Treasury Securities FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUsTreasurySecurities	2010000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Short Term Certificates Of Deposit FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisShortTermCertificatesOfDeposit	267000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Noncurrent Investments FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisNoncurrentInvestments	93000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Interest Rate Derivative Assets At Fair Value InterestRateDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue	73000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Swap Contracts Recorded As Net Asset FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesSwapContractsRecordedAsNetAsset	286000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Option Contracts Recorded As Net Asset FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesOptionContractsRecordedAsNetAsset	788000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Swap Contracts Recorded As Net Liability FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesSwapContractsRecordedAsNetLiability	33000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Option Contracts Recorded As Net Liability FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesOptionContractsRecordedAsNetLiability	233000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Other Available For Sale Securities Net Asset FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherAvailableForSaleSecuritiesNetAsset	39000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Total Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotalAssets	5083000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Swap Contracts Recorded As Net Asset FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesSwapContractsRecordedAsNetAsset	476000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Option Contracts Recorded As Net Asset FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesOptionContractsRecordedAsNetAsset	216000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Swap Contracts Recorded As Net Liability FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesSwapContractsRecordedAsNetLiability	387000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Fuel Derivatives Option Contracts Recorded As Net Liability FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFuelDerivativesOptionContractsRecordedAsNetLiability	119000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities At Fair Value InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue	4000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Total Liabilities FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotalLiabilities	1311000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Deferred Compensation Liabilities At Fair Value DeferredCompensationLiabilitiesAtFairValue	109000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings	26000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset And Liability Gain Loss Included In Other Comprehensive Income Loss FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetAndLiabilityGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss	33000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Purchases FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases	449000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue	784000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Sales FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales	575000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Settlements FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSettlements	176000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue	489000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings	64000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue	322000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings	-129000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset And Liability Gain Loss Included In Other Comprehensive Income Loss FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetAndLiabilityGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss	68000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Purchases FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases	527000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Sales FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales	253000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Settlements FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSettlements	9000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings	142000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	774000000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	746000000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	741000000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	0	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	775000000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	747000000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	741000000	shares
CY2011	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Fuel Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnFuelDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	67000000	USD
CY2010	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Fuel Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnFuelDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	330000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Fuel Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnFuelDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	366000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Interest Rate Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-32000000	USD
CY2010	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Interest Rate Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-15000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Interest Rate Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	27000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss Other Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOtherNetOfTax	3000000	USD
CY2010	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss Other Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOtherNetOfTax	1000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss Other Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOtherNetOfTax	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	38000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	316000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	406000000	USD
CY2010	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Fuel Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnFuelDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	205000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Fuel Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnFuelDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	226000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Interest Rate Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	20000000	USD
CY2010	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Interest Rate Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	9000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Interest Rate Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	17000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Fuel Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnFuelDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	42000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss Other Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOtherTax	1000000	USD
CY2010	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss Other Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOtherTax	1000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss Other Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOtherTax	8000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Capital Shares Reserved For Future Issuance CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance	44000000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	23000000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Common Stock Voting Rights CommonStockVotingRights	entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the Shareholders
CY2010	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	12000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	13000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	21000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition	1.2	Years
CY2011	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	13000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	1300000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	2200000	shares
CY2011	luv	Defined Contribution Pension Plans Percentage Of Contribution Of Its Eligible Pre Tax Profits DefinedContributionPensionPlansPercentageOfContributionOfItsEligiblePreTaxProfits	0.15	pure
CY2011	luv	Defined Contribution Pension Plans Maximum Age Requirement For Paying Medical And Dental Premiums With Accrued Unused Sick Time DefinedContributionPensionPlansMaximumAgeRequirementForPayingMedicalAndDentalPremiumsWithAccruedUnusedSickTime	65	Years
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	128000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Formula ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateFormula	ratio of two-thirds implied future volatility and one-third historical volatility as of the grant date
CY2010	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate Range ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateRange	2.73% - 3.04
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	6.0	Years
CY2010	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term Range Of Years ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTermRangeOfYears	6.0 - 6.0
CY2010	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Range ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateRange	33% - 33
CY2010	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate Range ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRateRange	.11% - .11
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	4.44
CY2009	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate Range ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateRange	0.93% - 4.97
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	5.9	Years
CY2009	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term Range Of Years ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTermRangeOfYears	1.0 - 6.0
CY2009	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Range ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateRange	36% - 38
CY2009	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate Range ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRateRange	.18% - .28
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	3.03
CY2010	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Weighted Average Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageExpectedDividendRate	0.0011	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Weighted Average Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageVolatilityRate	0.33	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.029	pure
CY2009	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Weighted Average Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageExpectedDividendRate	0.002	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.049	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Weighted Average Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsWeightedAverageVolatilityRate	0.38	pure
CY2010	luv	Sharebasedcompensationarrangementbysharebasedpaymentawardoptionsgrantsinperiodweightedaveragegrantdatefairvaluerange Sharebasedcompensationarrangementbysharebasedpaymentawardoptionsgrantsinperiodweightedaveragegrantdatefairvaluerange	$4.40 - $4.46
CY2009	luv	Sharebasedcompensationarrangementbysharebasedpaymentawardoptionsgrantsinperiodweightedaveragegrantdatefairvaluerange Sharebasedcompensationarrangementbysharebasedpaymentawardoptionsgrantsinperiodweightedaveragegrantdatefairvaluerange	$1.33 - $3.03
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	1000000	USD
CY2011	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested In Period Total Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue	13000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Stock Available For Issue Number Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockAvailableForIssueNumberEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	5000000	shares
CY2011	luv	Percentage Of Market Value For Shares Available Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan PercentageOfMarketValueForSharesAvailableUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	0.9	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	1700000	shares
CY2011Q4	luv	Weighted Average Fair Value Of Stock Purchase Right Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan WeightedAverageFairValueOfStockPurchaseRightUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	9.73
CY2011	luv	Aggregate Cost Of Discount Off Market Value For Shares Available Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan AggregateCostOfDiscountOffMarketValueForSharesAvailableUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	1.03	USD
CY2010	luv	Aggregate Cost Of Discount Off Market Value For Shares Available Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan AggregateCostOfDiscountOffMarketValueForSharesAvailableUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	1.23	USD
CY2009	luv	Aggregate Cost Of Discount Off Market Value For Shares Available Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan AggregateCostOfDiscountOffMarketValueForSharesAvailableUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	.75	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Weighted Average Fair Value Of Stock Purchase Right Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan WeightedAverageFairValueOfStockPurchaseRightUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	11.25
CY2009Q4	luv	Weighted Average Fair Value Of Stock Purchase Right Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan WeightedAverageFairValueOfStockPurchaseRightUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	6.78
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	4000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	1000000	USD
CY2010	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested In Period Total Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue	10000000	USD
CY2009	luv	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested In Period Total Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue	12000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	316000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	350000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	203000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Contributions By Employer DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer	5000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation Discount Rate DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate	0.0480	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Prior Service Cost Credit DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Contributions By Employer DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer	7000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation	91000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Service Cost DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost	17000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Interest Cost DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Benefits Paid DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid	5000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Actuarial Net Gains Losses DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialNetGainsLosses	3000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Business Combinations And Acquisitions Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanBusinessCombinationsAndAcquisitionsBenefitObligation	3000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation	107000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation	86000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Service Cost DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost	16000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Interest Cost DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost	4000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Benefits Paid DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid	7000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Business Combinations And Acquisitions Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanBusinessCombinationsAndAcquisitionsBenefitObligation	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Actuarial Net Gains Losses DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialNetGainsLosses	8000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year One DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearOne	6000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year Two DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearTwo	7000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year Three DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearThree	9000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year Four DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearFour	11000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year Five DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearFive	14000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Five Fiscal Years Thereafter DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInFiveFiscalYearsThereafter	108000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Effect Of One Percentage Point Increase On Service And Interest Cost Components DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointIncreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents	2000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Effect Of One Percentage Point Increase On Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointIncreaseOnAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligation	8000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Effect Of One Percentage Point Decrease On Service And Interest Cost Components DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents	-2000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Effect Of One Percentage Point Decrease On Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligation	-7000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Funded Status Of Plan DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan	-107000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Net Gains Losses Before Tax DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax	53000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Net Prior Service Cost Credit Before Tax DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax	1000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Before Tax DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax	52000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized In Balance Sheet DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsRecognizedInBalanceSheet	-107000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Funded Status Of Plan DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan	-91000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Net Gains Losses Before Tax DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax	57000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Net Prior Service Cost Credit Before Tax DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax	2000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Before Tax DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax	55000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized In Balance Sheet DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsRecognizedInBalanceSheet	-91000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed For Next Fiscal Year DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear	0.0750	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed For Next Fiscal Year DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear	0.0750	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed For Next Fiscal Year DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear	0.0800	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Ultimate Health Care Cost Trend Rate DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRate	0.05	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Year That Rate Reaches Ultimate Trend Rate DefinedBenefitPlanYearThatRateReachesUltimateTrendRate	2024
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Gains Losses DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses	6000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit Cost DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost	15000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Prior Service Cost Credit DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Gains Losses DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses	5000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit Cost DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost	15000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Service Cost DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost	10000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Interest Cost DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost	4000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Prior Service Cost Credit DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit	1000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Gains Losses DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses	7000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit Cost DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost	8000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation Discount Rate DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate	0.0405	pure
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation Discount Rate DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate	0.0430	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	3537000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	84000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	3621000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Derivative Instruments DeferredTaxAssetsDerivativeInstruments	155000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Gain On Sale Leaseback Transaction DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredGainOnSaleLeasebackTransaction	44000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Deferred Tax Assets Capital And Operating Leases DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalAndOperatingLeases	141000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeBenefits	267000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	39000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards State And Local DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsStateAndLocal	78000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	207000000	USD
CY2011Q4	luv	Deferred Tax Assets Net Operating Losses And Credit Carrybacks DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossesAndCreditCarrybacks	212000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	175000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	1318000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	-2303000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	3020000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	112000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	3132000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Derivative Instruments DeferredTaxAssetsDerivativeInstruments	194000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Gain On Sale Leaseback Transaction DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredGainOnSaleLeasebackTransaction	49000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Deferred Tax Assets Capital And Operating Leases DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalAndOperatingLeases	22000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeBenefits	226000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	42000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards State And Local DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsStateAndLocal	74000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	129000000	USD
CY2010Q4	luv	Deferred Tax Assets Net Operating Losses And Credit Carrybacks DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossesAndCreditCarrybacks	3000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	114000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	853000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	-2279000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	122000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	19000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	217000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	198000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	61000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	8000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	69000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-24000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	-1000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-25000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	4311000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	4108000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	114000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	207000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	225000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	147000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	18000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	275000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	79000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	11000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	90000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	114000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	5000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	261000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	8000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	18000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	-1000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	58000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	5000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	6000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	-4000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	5000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Loss Carryforwards OperatingLossCarryforwards	548000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	192000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Loss Carryforwards Expiration Dates OperatingLossCarryforwardsExpirationDates	2017 to 2031
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Examination Year S Under Examination IncomeTaxExaminationYearSUnderExamination	2010 to 2012
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.35	pure
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	3103000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	4136000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-226000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	255000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-.18
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.21
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.21
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-.18
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.20
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.01
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.20
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	2630000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	3168000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	3192000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	3114000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	54000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	363000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	355000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	216000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	17000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	184000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	332000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	213000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.15
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.27
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.01
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.27
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.18
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.18
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	.01
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	.15
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	5000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	161000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-140000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	152000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	11000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	112000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	205000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	131000000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001193125-12-049647-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-12-049647-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-12-049647.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-12-049647-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
d293991d10k.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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g293991g02n74.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
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g293991g27o63.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
g293991g70t56.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
luv-20111231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
luv-20111231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
luv-20111231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
luv-20111231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
luv-20111231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
luv-20111231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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$LUV
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO Stock $luv

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312512049647 Filed on February 09, 2012

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$LUV SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO Stock $luv

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312512049647 Filed on February 09, 2012

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$LUV
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO Stock $luv