Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Additional Information (Detail)

v3.3.0.814
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Additional Information (Detail)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Employees
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Employees
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Employee
Jun. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
Employees
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Employee
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]            
Number of employees under a national master agreement and various supplemental agreements with local unions affiliated with Teamsters | Employees   270,000        
Remittance of retroactive economic benefits     $ 278   $ 5 $ 101
Full-time employees affected by change in healthcare benefits | Employee     36,000     36,000
part-time employees affected by changes in healthcare benefits | Employee     73,000     73,000
Employees Covered by Other Collective Bargaining Agreements | Employee     16,000     16,000
Majority of ground mechanics not employed under agreements | Employees 3,100       3,100  
Settlement of postretirement benefit obligation       $ 2,271 $ 0 $ (1,995)
Multiemployer Plans, Payment Term         47 years  
Number of pilots under a collective bargaining agreement with the Independent Pilots Association | Employees 2,600       2,600  
Health and Welfare Plan Changes, After Tax Charges     $ 665      
Cash transferred     2,271     2,271
Cash Tax Benefits Received   $ 291 563      
Change In Post-Retirement Benefit and AOCI     13     13
International Pension Benefits            
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]            
Amount contributed to company- sponsored benefit plans         $ 66  
Estimated future employer contributions to defined benefit plan, current fiscal year         1.054  
U.S. Postretirement Medical Benefits            
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]            
Amount contributed to company- sponsored benefit plans         $ 81  
Estimated future employer contributions to defined benefit plan, current fiscal year         23  
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments $ 0   0   $ 0 $ (320)
Multiemployer Plans, Pension [Member]            
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]            
Multiemployer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation, Present Value 873 878     873  
Multi-employer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation, Fair Value Disclosure $ 854 $ 913     $ 854  
National Master Agreement (NMA) [Member]            
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]            
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments     1,066      
partial plan curtailment [Member]            
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]            
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments     (112)      
remeasurement of postretirement obligation [Member]            
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]            
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments     (746)      
defined benefit plan settlement losses [Member] | National Master Agreement (NMA) [Domain]            
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]            
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments     $ (208)