|
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
6 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jun. 30, 2014
|
Sep. 30, 2014
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Employees
|
Sep. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
|
Sep. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan
|
Sep. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan
|
Sep. 30, 2014
Multiemployer Plans, Pension [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Multiemployer Plans, Pension [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Event [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Event [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Event [Member]
Defined Benefit Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan
|
Sep. 30, 2014
Non-National Master Agreement (Non-NMA) [Member]
Employees
|
Jun. 30, 2014
Non-National Master Agreement (Non-NMA) [Member]
|
Jun. 30, 2014
National Master Agreement (NMA) [Member]
|
Jun. 30, 2014
National Master Agreement (NMA) [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2014
National Master Agreement (NMA) [Member]
Employees
|
Jun. 30, 2014
remeasurement of postretirement obligation [Member]
|
Jun. 30, 2014
defined benefit plan settlement losses [Member]
National Master Agreement (NMA) [Member]
|
Jun. 30, 2014
partial plan curtailment [Member]
|
|
| Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| other employees under collective bargaining agreements affected by changes in healthcare benefits | 16,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Amount contributed to company- sponsored benefit plans | $ 71 | $ 92 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated future employer contributions to defined benefit plan, current fiscal year | 49 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of employees under a national master agreement and various supplemental agreements with local unions affiliated with Teamsters | 253,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Majority of ground mechanics not employed under agreements | 3,100 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid | 278 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Full-time employees affected by change in healthcare benefits | 36,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| part-time employees affected by changes in healthcare benefits | 73,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Multiemployer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation, Present Value | 879 | 884 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Multi-employer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation, Fair Value Disclosure | 850 | 783 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of pilots under a collective bargaining agreement with the Independent Pilots Association | 2,600 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments | 0 | (320) | 31 | 1,066 | 746 | 208 | 112 | |||||||||||||
| DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDuetoSettlementsandCurtailmentsAfterTax | 665 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement payments to fund for assumption of postretirement benefit obligation | 2,271 | 276 | 1,995 | 1,995 | ||||||||||||||||
| CashTaxBenefitDueToSettlementofBenefitObligation | 563 | 291 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ChangeInPostRetirementBenefitandAOCI | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Defined Benefit Plan, Curtailments | 946 | 1,153 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Defined Benefit Plan, Plans with Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Benefit Obligation | $ 2,745 | $ 2,745 | $ 3,691 | $ 2,538 | ||||||||||||||||