Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)

Reporting Entity [Axis]

0000766421 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	Period [Axis]
	2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	Deferred tax (assets) and liabilities comprise the following (in millions):   2016   2015 Excess of tax over book depreciation $ 1,282   $ 1,110 Intangibles 39   — Other—net 26   23 Gross deferred tax liabilities 1,347   1,133         Mileage Plan™ (310 )   (208 ) Inventory obsolescence (23 )   (22 ) Deferred gains (8 )   (8 ) Employee benefits (196 )   (167 ) Fuel hedge contracts —   (5 ) Acquired net operating losses (289 )   — Other—net (62 )   (41 ) Gross deferred tax assets (888 )   (451 ) Valuation allowance 4   — Net deferred tax (assets) liabilities $ 463   $ 682
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	The components of income tax expense were as follows (in millions):    2016   2015   2014 Current income tax expense:           Federal $ 392   $ 397   $ 229 State 48   30   27 Total current income tax expense 440   427   256             Deferred income tax expense:           Federal 77   60   103 State 14   (23 )   11 Total deferred income tax expense 91   37   114 Income tax expense $ 531   $ 464   $ 370
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	Income tax expense reconciles to the amount computed by applying the U.S. federal rate of 35% to income before income tax and accounting changes as follows (in millions):     2016   2015   2014 Income before income tax $ 1,345   $ 1,312   $ 975             Expected tax expense 471   459   341 Nondeductible expenses 20   4   4 State income taxes 28   19   25 State income sourcing 13   (15 )   — Other—net (1 )   (3 )   — Actual tax expense $ 531   $ 464   $ 370             Effective tax rate 39.5 %   35.4 %   37.9 %
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]	The Company has identified its federal tax return and its state tax returns in Alaska, Oregon and California as “major” tax jurisdictions.  A summary of the Company's jurisdictions and the periods that are subject to examination are as follows: Jurisdiction Period Federal 2006 to 2015 (a)(b) Alaska 2012 to 2015 California 2006 to 2015(a) Oregon 2003 to 2015(a) (a) The 2003, 2004, 2008-2010 and 2011 Oregon tax returns are subject to examination only to the extent of net operating loss carryforwards from those years that were utilized in 2010 and later years. The 2006-2012 Federal and California Virgin America tax returns are subject to examination only to the extent of net operating loss carryforwards from those years that were utilized in 2012 and later years. Changes in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits during 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in millions):   2016   2015   2014 Balance at January 1, $ 22   $ 3   $ 2 Additions based on tax positions and settlements related to the current year 3   19   1 Additions from acquisitions 8   —   — Balance at December 31, $ 33   $ 22   $ 3