Instrument time is when the aircraft is controlled by "sole reference to the instruments". If when you are flying you are looking out and seeing the horizon and the ground and using those ques to control the aircraft, as well as the instruments - it is not instrument time.
By that definition, almost all airline time is instrument, as you are IFR and in making nav and control descisions you use the instruments, regardless of the conditions.
For licence issue, simulated and actual instrument time are different, and that depends if you are under the hood or in IMC (or in a sim). When you have your licence, log it as instrument unless you have been flying visually.