United Airlines 10-Q 24 Apr 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 14, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'
Trading Symbol	'UAL	'
Entity Registrant Name	'United Continental Holdings, Inc.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000100517	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	373,504,409
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'United Airlines, Inc.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000319687	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	1,000

Statements_of_Consolidated_Ope

Statements of Consolidated Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Operating revenue:	'	'
Passenger-Mainline	$5,848	$5,938
Passenger-Regional	1,536	1,621
Total passenger revenue	7,384	7,559
Cargo	209	227
Other operating revenue	1,103	935
Total revenue	8,696	8,721
Operating expense:	'	'
Aircraft fuel	2,917	3,050
Salaries and related costs	2,153	2,127
Regional capacity purchase	559	588
Landing fees and other rent	572	497
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs	458	438
Depreciation and amortization	409	408
Distribution expenses	318	328
Aircraft rent	224	240
Special charges	52	92
Other operating expenses	1,383	1,217
Total operating expenses	9,045	8,985
Operating loss	-349	-264
Nonoperating income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense	-187	-201
Interest capitalized	14	11
Interest income	5	5
Miscellaneous, net	-89	23
Total other expense	-257	-162
Loss before income taxes	-606	-426
Income tax expense (benefit)	3	-9
Net loss	-609	-417
Loss per share, basic	($1.66)	($1.26)
Loss per share, diluted	($1.66)	($1.26)
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Operating revenue:	'	'
Passenger-Mainline	5,848	5,938
Passenger-Regional	1,536	1,621
Total passenger revenue	7,384	7,559
Cargo	209	227
Other operating revenue	1,103	937
Total revenue	8,696	8,723
Operating expense:	'	'
Aircraft fuel	2,917	3,050
Salaries and related costs	2,153	2,127
Regional capacity purchase	559	588
Landing fees and other rent	572	497
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs	458	438
Depreciation and amortization	409	408
Distribution expenses	318	328
Aircraft rent	224	240
Special charges	52	92
Other operating expenses	1,375	1,217
Total operating expenses	9,037	8,985
Operating loss	-341	-262
Nonoperating income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense	-189	-203
Interest capitalized	14	11
Interest income	5	5
Miscellaneous, net	-66	85
Total other expense	-236	-102
Loss before income taxes	-577	-364
Income tax expense (benefit)	3	-2
Net loss	($580)	($362)

Statements_of_Consolidated_Com

Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Net loss	($609)		($417)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net change related to:	'		'
Fuel derivative financial instruments	-7		'
Employee benefit plans	-21		21
Investments and other	'		-2
Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments	-28	[1]	19	[1]
Total comprehensive loss, net	-637		-398
United Airlines, Inc.	'		'
Net loss	-580		-362
Other comprehensive income (loss), net change related to:	'		'
Fuel derivative financial instruments	-7		'
Employee benefit plans	-21		21
Investments and other	1		-1
Other	'		6
Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments	-27		26
Total comprehensive loss, net	($607)		($336)
[1]	UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United in 2013 and additional (losses) gains related to investments and other of $1 million and $1 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$3,009		$3,220
Short-term investments	2,015		1,901
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	5,024		5,121
Restricted cash	49		31
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2014 - $17; 2013 - $13)	1,609		1,503
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance (2014 - $170; 2013 - $162)	641		667
Deferred income taxes	620		676
Prepaid expenses and other	845		704
Total current assets	8,788		8,702
Operating property and equipment: Owned-	'		'
Flight equipment	19,376		18,786
Other property and equipment	3,759		3,687
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	23,135		22,473
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-6,364		-6,080
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	16,771		16,393
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	688		706
Capital leases-	'		'
Flight equipment	1,496		1,490
Other property and equipment	315		307
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,811		1,797
Less - Accumulated amortization	-886		-849
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	925		948
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	18,384		18,047
Other assets:	'		'
Goodwill	4,523		4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization (2014 - $954; 2013 - $933)	4,402		4,436
Restricted cash	340		364
Other, net	748		740
Other assets total	10,013		10,063
Total assets	37,185		36,812
Current liabilities:	'		'
Advance ticket sales	4,804		3,405
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,318		2,369
Accounts payable	2,332		2,087
Accrued salaries and benefits	1,363		1,696
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,178		1,368
Current maturities of capital leases	112		117
Other	984		1,065
Total current liabilities	13,091		12,107
Long-term debt	10,098		10,171
Long-term obligations under capital leases	736		753
Other liabilities and deferred credits:	'		'
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,593		2,535
Postretirement benefit liability	1,701		1,703
Pension liability	1,626		1,650
Advanced purchase of miles	1,282		1,338
Deferred income taxes	1,608		1,662
Lease fair value adjustment, net	590		626
Other	1,281		1,283
Total non-current liabilities	10,681		10,797
Commitments and contingencies	'		'
Stockholders' equity (deficit):	'		'
Preferred stock	'		'
Common stock	4		4
Additional capital invested	7,666		7,425
Accumulated deficit	-5,624		-5,015
Stock held in treasury, at cost	-47		-38
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	580	[1]	608	[1]
Total stockholders' equity	2,579		2,984
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	37,185		36,812
United Airlines, Inc.	'		'
Current assets:	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	3,003		3,214
Short-term investments	2,015		1,901
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	5,018		5,115
Restricted cash	49		31
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2014 - $17; 2013 - $13)	1,609		1,503
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance (2014 - $170; 2013 - $162)	641		667
Deferred income taxes	614		674
Prepaid expenses and other	893		705
Total current assets	8,824		8,695
Operating property and equipment: Owned-	'		'
Flight equipment	19,376		18,786
Other property and equipment	3,759		3,687
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	23,135		22,473
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-6,364		-6,080
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	16,771		16,393
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	688		706
Capital leases-	'		'
Flight equipment	1,496		1,490
Other property and equipment	315		307
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,811		1,797
Less - Accumulated amortization	-886		-849
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	925		948
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	18,384		18,047
Other assets:	'		'
Goodwill	4,523		4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization (2014 - $954; 2013 - $933)	4,402		4,436
Restricted cash	340		364
Other, net	1,333		1,221
Other assets total	10,598		10,544
Total assets	37,806		37,286
Current liabilities:	'		'
Advance ticket sales	4,804		3,405
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,318		2,369
Accounts payable	2,336		2,092
Accrued salaries and benefits	1,363		1,696
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,178		1,368
Current maturities of capital leases	112		117
Payables to related parties	102		114
Other	975		1,064
Total current liabilities	13,188		12,225
Long-term debt	9,996		10,020
Long-term obligations under capital leases	736		753
Other liabilities and deferred credits:	'		'
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,593		2,535
Postretirement benefit liability	1,701		1,703
Pension liability	1,626		1,650
Advanced purchase of miles	1,282		1,338
Deferred income taxes	1,603		1,661
Lease fair value adjustment, net	590		626
Other	1,634		1,552
Total non-current liabilities	11,029		11,065
Commitments and contingencies	'		'
Stockholders' equity (deficit):	'		'
Common stock	0		0
Additional capital invested	7,598		7,590
Accumulated deficit	-5,322		-4,743
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	581		608
Receivable from related parties	'		-232
Total stockholders' equity	2,857		3,223
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$37,806		$37,286
[1]	UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United in 2013 and additional (losses) gains related to investments and other of $1 million and $1 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$17	$13
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, obsolescence allowance	170	162
Intangibles, accumulated amortization	954	933
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common shares, authorized	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common shares, outstanding	373,502,963	362,283,555
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	17	13
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, obsolescence allowance	170	162
Intangibles, accumulated amortization	$954	$933
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common shares, authorized	1,000	1,000
Common shares, issued	1,000	1,000
Common shares, outstanding	1,000	1,000

Condensed_Statements_of_Consol

Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by operating activities	$694	$393
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-364	-375
Increase in short-term and other investments, net	-111	-77
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	35	9
Decrease in restricted cash, net	6	12
Other, net	7	'
Net cash used in investing activities	-427	-431
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Payments of long-term debt	-613	-1,241
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	147	109
Principal payments under capital leases	-24	-29
Other, net	12	-33
Net cash used in financing activities	-478	-1,194
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-211	-1,232
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	3,220	4,770
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,009	3,538
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:	'	'
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt	375	146
Exchanges of certain convertible notes for common stock	202	'
Airport construction financing	2	5
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by operating activities	686	389
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-364	-375
Increase in short-term and other investments, net	-111	-77
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	35	9
Decrease in restricted cash, net	6	12
Other, net	7	'
Net cash used in investing activities	-427	-431
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Payments of long-term debt	-613	-1,241
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	147	109
Principal payments under capital leases	-24	-29
Other, net	20	-30
Net cash used in financing activities	-470	-1,191
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-211	-1,233
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	3,214	4,765
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,003	3,532
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:	'	'
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt	375	146
Transfer of UAL subsidiaries to United	186	'
Exchanges of certain convertible notes for common stock	156	'
Airport construction financing	$2	$5

Significant_Accounting_Policie

Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies	'
	NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	Frequent Flyer Accounting. On March 30, 2014, US Airways exited Star Alliance. Effective with the exit date, the Company updated its estimated selling price for miles to a value based on the equivalent ticket value less fulfillment discount, which incorporates the expected redemption of miles. The equivalent ticket value used as the basis for the estimated selling price of miles is based on the prior 12 months’ weighted average equivalent ticket value of similar fares as those used to settle award redemptions while taking into consideration such factors as redemption pattern, cabin class, loyalty status and geographic region. This change in estimate will be applied on a prospective basis beginning April 1, 2014. The estimated impact of this change on consolidated revenue is expected to be an increase of approximately $75 million in 2014.
	Related Party Receivables. At December 31, 2013, United had receivables from two affiliates, which were wholly-owned subsidiaries of UAL, of $232 million that were classified against stockholder’s equity. UAL transferred all of its equity interest in each of the two subsidiaries to United in the first quarter of 2014, and the transfers have been reflected as reductions in paid in capital.

Loss_Per_Share

Loss Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Loss Per Share	'
	NOTE 2 - LOSS PER SHARE
	The table below represents the computation of UAL’s basic and diluted loss per share amounts and the number of securities that have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share amounts because they were antidilutive (in millions, except per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Basic and diluted loss per share:
	Loss available to common stockholders	$	-609	$	-417
	Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted		368		332
	Loss per share, basic and diluted	$	-1.66	$	-1.26
	Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:
	Restricted stock and stock options		2		4
	Convertible notes		28		61
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, UAL issued approximately five million additional shares of UAL common stock in exchange for, or upon conversion of, $46 million in aggregate principal amount of UAL’s outstanding 6% convertible senior notes due 2029 held by such securityholders. The newly issued shares of UAL common stock are included in the determination of basic weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from the date the shares were issued. The Company retired the 6% convertible senior notes acquired in the exchange.
	In the first quarter of 2014, holders of substantially all of the remaining $156 million outstanding principal amount of the 4.5% Senior Limited-Subordination Convertible Notes due 2021 (the “4.5% Notes”) exercised their right to convert such notes into approximately five million shares of UAL common stock at a conversion rate of 30.6419 shares of UAL common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 4.5% Notes. The newly issued shares of UAL common stock are included in the determination of basic weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from the date the shares were issued. See Note 9 for information related to exercises of the 4.5% Notes.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	NOTE 3 - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	The tables below present the components of the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (“AOCI”) (in millions):
	UAL (a)	Pension and		Derivative		Investments		Total
		Other		Contracts		and Other
		Postretirement
		Liabilities
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	584	$	11	$	13	$	608
	Changes in value		-5		-10		—		-15
	Amounts reclassified to earnings		-16		3		—		-13
	Net current-period change		-21		-7		—		-28
	Balance at March 31, 2014	$	563	$	4	$	13	$	580
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	-1,042	$	-10	$	6	$	(1,046)
	Changes in value		—		-9		-2		-11
	Amounts reclassified to earnings		21		9		—		30
	Net current-period change		21		—		-2		19
	Balance at March 31, 2013	$	-1,021	$	-10	$	4	$	-1,027
	Details about AOCI Components	Amount Reclassified from AOCI to				Affected Line Item in
		Income				the Statements of
						Consolidated Operations
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
	Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings (b)	$	3	$	9	Aircraft fuel
	Amortization of pension and post-retirement items
	Amortization of unrecognized (gains) losses and prior service cost (credit) (b) (c)	$	-16	$	21	Salaries and related costs
	(a) UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United in 2013 and additional (losses) gains related to investments and other of $1 million and $1 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	(b) Income tax expense for these items was offset by the Company’s valuation allowance.
	(c) This AOCI component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement costs (see Note 5 of this report for additional details).

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Taxes	'
	NOTE 4 - INCOME TAXES
	Our effective tax rates are lower than the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily because of the impact of changes to existing valuation allowances. We continue to provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets in excess of deferred tax liabilities because we have concluded that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will ultimately not be realized.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	NOTE 5 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans. The Company’s net periodic benefit cost includes the following components (in millions):
		Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement
						Benefits
		Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
		March 31,				March 31,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Service cost	$	24	$	33	$	5	$	14
	Interest cost		51		47		22		28
	Expected return on plan assets		-45		-40		-1		-1
	Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		3		18		-19		3
	Total	$	33	$	58	$	7	$	44
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company contributed $57 million to its tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans.
	Share-Based Compensation. In February 2014, UAL granted share-based compensation awards pursuant to the United Continental Holdings, Inc. 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan. These share-based compensation awards include approximately 0.3 million shares of restricted stock and 0.5 million restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that vest pro-rata over three years on the anniversary of the grant date. The time-vested RSUs are cash-settled based on the 20-day average closing price of UAL common stock immediately prior to the vesting date. In addition, the Company granted 0.6 million performance-based RSUs that will vest based on the Company’s return on invested capital for the three years ending December 31, 2016. If this performance condition is achieved, cash payments will be made after the end of the performance period based on the 20-day average closing price of UAL common stock immediately prior to the vesting date. The Company accounts for the RSUs as liability awards. The table below presents information related to share-based compensation (in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Share-based compensation expense (a)	$	32	$	27
		March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Unrecognized share-based compensation	$	90	$	44
	(a) Includes $3 million and $8 million of expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Profit Sharing Plans. Substantially all employees participated in profit sharing plans, which depending on the work group, pay from 5% to 20% of total pre-tax earnings, excluding special items and share-based compensation expense, to eligible employees when pre-tax profit, excluding special items, profit sharing expense and share-based compensation program expense, exceeds $10 million. Eligible U.S. co-workers in each participating work group received a profit sharing payout using a formula based on the ratio of each qualified co-worker’s annual eligible earnings to the eligible earnings of all qualified co-workers in all domestic work groups. The international profit sharing plan paid eligible non-U.S. co-workers the same percentage of eligible pay that is calculated under the U.S. profit sharing plan for management and administrative employees. Profit sharing expense is recorded as a component of salaries and related costs in the consolidated statements of operations.

Financial_Instruments_and_Fair

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements	'
	NOTE 6 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	The table below presents disclosures about the financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company’s financial statements (in millions):
		March 31, 2014										December 31, 2013
		Total			Level 1			Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
		UAL
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,009		$	3,009		$	—	$	—	$	3,220	$	3,220	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Asset-backed securities		796			—			796		—		694		—		694		—
	Corporate debt		667			—			667		—		685		—		685		—
	Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”)		315			—			315		—		301		—		301		—
	Auction rate securities		96			—			—		96		105		—		—		105
	U.S. government and agency notes		44			—			44		—		38		—		38		—
	Other fixed income securities		97			—			97		—		78		—		78		—
	Enhanced equipment trust certificates (“EETC”)		59			—			—		59		61		—		—		61
	Fuel derivatives, net		48			—			48		—		104		—		104		—
	Foreign currency derivatives		1			—			1		—		1		—		1		—
	Restricted cash		389			389			—		—		395		395		—		—
		United
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,003		$	3,003		$	—	$	—	$	3,214	$	3,214	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Asset-backed securities		796			—			796		—		694		—		694		—
	Corporate debt		667			—			667		—		685		—		685		—
	CDARS		315			—			315		—		301		—		301		—
	Auction rate securities		96			—			—		96		105		—		—		105
	U.S. government and agency notes		44			—			44		—		38		—		38		—
	Other fixed income securities		97			—			97		—		78		—		78		—
	EETC		59			—			—		59		61		—		—		61
	Fuel derivatives, net		48			—			48		—		104		—		104		—
	Foreign currency derivatives		1			—			1		—		1		—		1		—
	Restricted cash		389			389			—		—		395		395		—		—
	Convertible debt derivative asset		584			—			—		584		480		—		—		480
	Convertible debt option liability		-352			—			—		-352		-270		—		—		-270
	Available-for-sale investment maturities - The short-term investments and EETC securities shown in the table above are classified as available-for-sale. As of March 31, 2014, asset-backed securities have remaining maturities of less than one year to approximately 40 years, corporate debt securities have remaining maturities of less than one year to approximately 21 years, CDARS have maturities of less than one year, and auction rate securities have remaining maturities of approximately 18 to 32 years. U.S. government and other securities have maturities of approximately one year. The EETC securities have various maturities with the final maturity in 2019.
	The table below presents disclosures about the activity for “Level 3” financial assets and financial liabilities (in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014										2013
		UAL and United						United				UAL and United				United
		Student			EETC			Convertible		Convertible		Student		EETC		Convertible		Convertible
		Loan-Related						Debt		Debt		Loan-Related				Debt		Debt
		Auction Rate						Supplemental		Conversion		Auction Rate				Supplemental		Conversion
		Securities						Derivative		Option		Securities				Derivative		Option
								Asset		Liability						Asset		Liability
	Balance at January 1	$	105		$	61		$	480	$	-270	$	116	$	63	$	268	$	-128
	Purchases, (sales), issuances and settlements (net)		-10			-3			—		—		-10		-2		—		—
	Gains and (losses):
	Reported in earnings:
	Realized		1			—			—		—		2		—		—		—
	Unrealized		—			—			104		-82		1		—		145		-81
	Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)		—			1			—		—		-1		—		—		—
	Balance at March 31	$	96		$	59		$	584	$	-352	$	108	$	61	$	413	$	-209
	United’s debt-related derivatives presented in the tables above relate to (a) supplemental indenture agreements that provide that United’s convertible debt is convertible into shares of UAL common stock upon the terms and conditions specified in the indentures, and (b) the embedded conversion options in United’s convertible debt that are required to be separated and accounted for as though they are free-standing derivatives as a result of the United debt becoming convertible into the common stock of a different reporting entity. The derivatives described above relate to the 6% Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2030 and the 4.5% Convertible Notes due 2015. These derivatives are reported in United’s separate financial statements and eliminated in consolidation for UAL.
	Derivative instruments and investments presented in the tables above have the same fair value as their carrying value. The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above (in millions):
		Fair Value of Debt by Fair Value Hierarchy Level
		March 31, 2014												December 31, 2013
		Carrying			Fair Value									Carrying		Fair Value
		Amount												Amount
					Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3				Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	UAL debt	$	11,276		$	12,536		$	—	$	8,684	$	3,852	$	11,539	$	12,695	$	—	$	8,829	$	3,866
	United debt		11,174			12,234			—		8,382		3,852		11,388		12,249		—		8,383		3,866
	Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements (in millions)
	Item	Fair Value at			Valuation Technique		Unobservable Input	Range
		March 31, 2014						(Weighted Average)
	Auction rate securities	$	96		Valuation Service / Broker Quotes		Broker quotes (a)	NA
EETC		59		Discounted Cash Flows		Structure credit risk (b)	4%
Convertible debt		584		Binomial Lattice Model		Expected volatility (c)	40% - 60% (41%)
derivative asset						Own credit risk (d)	5%
Convertible debt		(352	)	Binomial Lattice Model		Expected volatility (c)	40% - 60% (42%)
option liability						Own credit risk (d)	5%
(a) Broker quotes obtained by a third-party valuation service.
(b) Represents the credit risk premium of the EETC structure above the risk-free rate that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
(c) Represents the range in volatility estimates that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
(d) Represents the range of Company-specific risk adjustments that the Company has determined market participants would use as a model input.
Valuation Processes - Level 3 Measurements - Depending on the instrument, the Company utilizes broker quotes obtained from third-party valuation services, discounted cash flow methods, or option pricing methods, as indicated above. Valuations using discounted cash flow methods are generally conducted by the Company. Valuations using option pricing models are generally provided to the Company by third-party valuation experts. Each reporting period, the Company reviews the unobservable inputs used by third-party valuation experts for reasonableness utilizing relevant information available to the Company from other sources.
The Company uses broker quotes obtained from a valuation service (in replacement of a discounted cash flows method) for valuing auction rate securities. This approach provides the best available information.
Sensitivity Analysis - Level 3 Measurements - Changes in the structure credit risk would be unlikely to cause material changes in the fair value of the EETCs.
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the United convertible debt derivative assets and liabilities are the expected volatility in UAL common stock and the Company’s own credit risk. Significant increases (decreases) in expected stock volatility would result in a higher (lower) fair value measurement. Significant increases (decreases) in the Company’s own credit risk would result in a lower (higher) fair value measurement. A change in one of the inputs would not necessarily result in a directionally similar change in the other.
Fair value of the financial instruments included in the tables above was determined as follows:
Description	Fair Value Methodology
Cash and cash equivalents	The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these assets.
Short-term investments and Restricted cash	Fair value is based on (a) the trading prices of the investment or similar instruments, (b) an income approach, which uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts into a single present amount based on current market expectations about those future amounts when observable trading prices are not available, (c) internally-developed models of the expected future cash flows related to the securities, or (d) broker quotes obtained by third-party valuation services.
Fuel derivatives	Derivative contracts are privately negotiated contracts and are not exchange traded. Fair value measurements are estimated with option pricing models that employ observable inputs. Inputs to the valuation models include contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, fuel price curves and measures of volatility, among others.
Foreign currency derivatives	Fair value is determined with a formula utilizing observable inputs. Significant inputs to the valuation models include contractual terms, risk-free interest rates and forward exchange rates.
Debt	Fair values were based on either market prices or the discounted amount of future cash flows using our current incremental rate of borrowing for similar liabilities.
Convertible debt derivative asset and option liability	United used a binomial lattice model to value the conversion options and the supplemental derivative assets. Significant binomial model inputs that are not objectively determinable include volatility and the Company’s credit risk component of the discount rate.

Hedging_Activities

Hedging Activities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Hedging Activities	'
	NOTE 7 - HEDGING ACTIVITIES
	Fuel Derivatives
	Aircraft fuel has been the Company’s single largest operating expense for the last several years. The availability and price of aircraft fuel significantly affects the Company’s operations, results of operations, financial position and liquidity. Aircraft fuel prices can fluctuate based on a multitude of factors including market expectations of supply and demand balance, inventory levels, geopolitical events, economic growth expectations, fiscal/monetary policies and financial investment flows. To protect against increases in the prices of aircraft fuel, the Company routinely hedges a portion of its future fuel requirements. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had hedged approximately 22%, 16% and less than 1% of its projected fuel requirements (668 million, 650 million and six million gallons, respectively) for the remainder of 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively, with commonly used financial hedge instruments based on aircraft fuel or closely related commodities, such as diesel fuel and crude oil. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had fuel hedges expiring through March 2016. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for non-risk management purposes.
	Accounting pronouncements pertaining to derivative instruments and hedging are complex with stringent requirements, including documentation of hedging strategy, statistical analysis to qualify a commodity for hedge accounting both on a historical and a prospective basis, and strict contemporaneous documentation that is required at the time each hedge is designated as a cash flow hedge. As required, the Company assesses the effectiveness of each of its individual hedges on a quarterly basis. The Company also examines the effectiveness of its entire hedging program on a quarterly basis utilizing statistical analysis. This analysis involves utilizing regression and other statistical analyses that compare changes in the price of aircraft fuel to changes in the prices of the commodities used for hedging purposes.
	Upon proper qualification, the Company accounts for certain fuel derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. All derivatives designated as hedges that meet certain requirements are granted hedge accounting treatment. The types of instruments the Company utilizes that qualify for special hedge accounting treatment typically include swaps, call options, collars (which consist of a purchased call option and a sold put option) and four-way collars (a collar with a higher strike sold call option and a lower strike purchased put option). Generally, utilizing hedge accounting, all periodic changes in fair value of the derivatives designated as hedges that are considered to be effective are recorded in AOCI until the underlying fuel is consumed and recorded in fuel expense. The Company is exposed to the risk that its hedges may not be effective in offsetting changes in the cost of fuel and that its hedges may not continue to qualify for hedge accounting. Hedge ineffectiveness results when the change in the fair value of the derivative instrument exceeds the change in the value of the Company’s expected future cash outlay to purchase and consume fuel. To the extent that the periodic changes in the fair value of the derivatives are not effective, that ineffectiveness is classified as Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in the statements of consolidated operations.
	The Company also utilizes certain derivative instruments that are economic hedges but do not qualify for hedge accounting under U.S. GAAP. As with derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting, the purpose of these economic hedges is to mitigate the adverse financial impact of potential increases in the price of fuel. Currently, the only such economic hedges in the Company’s hedging portfolio are three-way collars (a collar with a higher strike sold call option). The Company records changes in the fair value of three-way collars to Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in the statements of consolidated operations.
	If the Company terminates a derivative prior to its contractual settlement date, then the cumulative gain or loss recognized in AOCI at the termination date remains in AOCI until the forecasted transaction occurs. In a situation where it becomes probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, any gains and/or losses that have been recorded to AOCI would be required to be immediately reclassified into earnings. All cash flows associated with purchasing and settling derivatives are classified as operating cash flows in the condensed statements of consolidated cash flows.
	The Company records each derivative instrument as a derivative asset or liability (on a gross basis) in its consolidated balance sheets, and, accordingly, records any related collateral on a gross basis. The table below presents the fair value amounts of fuel derivative assets and liabilities and the location of amounts recognized in the Company’s financial statements.
	The Company’s derivatives were reported in its consolidated balance sheets as follows (in millions):
	Classification	Balance Sheet Location		March 31,				December 31,
				2014				2013
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	9			$	19
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			5				6
	Total assets			$	14			$	25
	Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	32			$	70
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			4				9
	Total assets			$	36			$	79
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		$	-2			$	—
	Total liabilities			$	-2			$	—
	Total derivatives
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	41			$	89
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			9				15
	Total assets			$	50			$	104
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		$	-2			$	—
	The following tables present the impact of derivative instruments and their location within the Company’s unaudited statements of consolidated operations (in millions):
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
		Amount of  Loss								Loss				Amount of Loss
		Recognized								Reclassified from				Recognized in
		in AOCI on Derivatives								AOCI  into				Nonoperating income
		(Effective Portion)								Fuel Expense				(expense):  Miscellaneous, net
														(Ineffective Portion)
		Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
		March 31,								March 31,				March 31,
		2014				2013				2014		2013		2014		2013
	Fuel contracts	$	-10			$	-9			$	-3	$	-9	$	-1	$	—
	Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
	Fuel contracts
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014				2013
	Amount of gain (loss) recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net	$	-40			$	50
	Derivative Credit Risk and Fair Value
	The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to its derivative instruments. While the Company records derivative instruments on a gross basis, the Company monitors its net derivative position with each counterparty to monitor credit risk. Based on the fair value of our fuel derivative instruments, our counterparties may require us to post collateral when the price of the underlying commodity decreases, and we may require our counterparties to provide us with collateral when the price of the underlying commodity increases. The Company did not post or hold collateral as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	We have master trading agreements with all of our fuel hedging counterparties that allow us to net our fuel hedge derivative positions. We have elected not to net the fair value positions recorded on our consolidated balance sheets. The following table shows the potential net fair value positions (including fuel derivatives and related collateral) had we elected to offset. The table reflects offset at the counterparty level (in millions):
		March 31,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Receivables	$	41			$	89
	Other assets: Other, net		7				15
	Hedge derivatives, net	$	48			$	104

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	NOTE 8 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Commitments. As of March 31, 2014, United had firm commitments to purchase aircraft from The Boeing Company (“Boeing”), Embraer S.A. (“Embraer”) and Airbus S.A.S. (“Airbus”) presented in the table below:
	Aircraft Type	Number of Firm
		Commitments (a)
	Airbus A350-1000		35
	Boeing 737-900ER		53
	Boeing 737 MAX 9		100
	Boeing 787-8/-9/-10		55
	Embraer EMB175		29
	(a) United also has options and purchase rights for additional aircraft.
	The aircraft listed in the table above are scheduled for delivery for the remainder of 2014 through 2025. In the remainder of 2014, United expects to take delivery of 19 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, two Boeing 787-8 aircraft, two Boeing 787-9 aircraft and 16 Embraer EMB175 aircraft.
	The table below summarizes United’s commitments as of March 31, 2014, which primarily relate to the acquisition of aircraft and related spare engines, aircraft improvements and include other commitments primarily to acquire information technology services and assets (in billions):
	Last nine months of 2014	$	2.5
	2015		2.8
	2016		2.0
	2017		1.5
	2018		2.1
	After 2018		12.5
		$	23.4
	Any incremental firm aircraft orders, including through the exercise of purchase options and purchase rights, will increase the total future capital commitments of the Company.
	As of April, 2014, United has arranged for EETC and bank debt financing for all 2014 aircraft deliveries except for eight Embraer EMB175 aircraft. In addition, United has secured backstop financing commitments from certain of its aircraft manufacturers for a limited number of its future aircraft deliveries, subject to certain customary conditions. Financing will be necessary to satisfy the Company’s capital commitments for its firm order aircraft and other related capital expenditures. The Company can provide no assurance that any financing not already in place for aircraft and spare engine deliveries will be available to the Company on acceptable terms when necessary or at all. See Note 9 of this report for additional information on aircraft financing.
	Guarantees and Off-Balance Sheet Financing
	Guarantees. United is the guarantor of approximately $1.9 billion in aggregate principal amount of tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds and interest thereon. These bonds, issued by various airport municipalities, are payable solely from rentals paid under long-term agreements with the respective governing bodies. The leasing arrangements associated with $1.6 billion of these obligations are accounted for as operating leases with the associated expense recorded on a straight-line basis resulting in ratable accrual of the lease obligation over the expected lease term. The leasing arrangements associated with $269 million of these obligations are accounted for as capital leases. All these bonds are due between 2015 and 2038.
	In the Company’s financing transactions that include loans, the Company typically agrees to reimburse lenders for any reduced returns with respect to the loans due to any change in capital requirements and, in the case of loans in which the interest rate is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), for certain other increased costs that the lenders incur in carrying these loans as a result of any change in law, subject in most cases to obligations of the lenders to take certain limited steps to mitigate the requirement for, or the amount of, such increased costs. At March 31, 2014, the Company had $2.0 billion of floating rate debt and $264 million of fixed rate debt, with remaining terms of up to twelve years, that are subject to these increased cost provisions. In several financing transactions involving loans or leases from non-U.S. entities, with remaining terms of up to twelve years and an aggregate balance of $2.2 billion, the Company bears the risk of any change in tax laws that would subject loan or lease payments thereunder to non-U.S. entities to withholding taxes, subject to customary exclusions.
	Credit Facilities. On March 27, 2013, United and UAL entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) as the borrower and guarantor, respectively, that provides United with a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility. As of March 31, 2014, United had its entire capacity of $1.0 billion available under the revolving credit facility. See Note 9 of this report for more information.
	Labor Negotiations. As of March 31, 2014, United had approximately 87,000 active employees, of whom approximately 80% were represented by various labor organizations. We are currently in the process of negotiating amended collective bargaining agreements with our remaining employee groups without joint collective bargaining agreements, including our technicians, flight attendants and dispatchers.

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt	'
	NOTE 9 - DEBT
	As of March 31, 2014, a substantial portion of our assets is pledged as collateral for our debt. These assets principally consist of aircraft, route authorities and loyalty program intangible assets. As of March 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.
	6% Convertible Senior Notes. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, UAL issued approximately five million additional shares of UAL common stock in exchange for, or upon conversion of, $46 million in aggregate principal amount of UAL’s outstanding 6% convertible senior notes due 2029 held by such securityholders. As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding balance is $58 million.
	8% Notes Due 2024. UAL redeemed in cash at par value all $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 8% Notes due 2024 on January 17, 2014.
	4.5% Senior Limited-Subordination Convertible Notes. In June 2011, UAL repurchased at par value approximately $570 million of the $726 million outstanding principal amount of its 4.5% Notes with cash after notes were put to UAL by the noteholders. In the first quarter of 2014, holders of substantially all of the remaining $156 million outstanding principal amount of the 4.5% Notes exercised their right to convert such notes into approximately five million shares of UAL common stock at a conversion rate of 30.6419 shares of UAL common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 4.5% Notes.
	2013 Credit and Guaranty Agreement. On March 27, 2013, United and UAL entered into the Credit Agreement as the borrower and guarantor, respectively. The Credit Agreement consists of a $900 million term loan due April 1, 2019 and a $1.0 billion revolving credit facility available for drawing until April 1, 2018. As of March 31, 2014, United had its entire capacity of $1.0 billion available under the revolving credit facility. The obligations of United under the Credit Agreement are secured by liens on certain international route authorities between certain specified cities, certain take-off and landing rights and related assets of United. In March 2014, United amended the Credit Agreement to reduce the interest rate payable on the existing $893 million term loan from LIBOR plus a margin of 3.0% per annum to LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75% per annum, subject to a 0.75% floor. Borrowings under the revolving credit portion of the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR, plus a margin of 3.0% per annum, or another rate based on certain market interest rates, plus a margin of 2.0% per annum. The principal amount of the term loan must be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments of 0.25% of the original principal amount thereof, commencing on June 30, 2013, with any unpaid balance due on April 1, 2019. United may prepay all or a portion of the loan from time to time, at par plus accrued and unpaid interest. United pays a commitment fee equal to 0.75% per annum on the undrawn amount available under the revolving credit facility.
	The Credit Agreement includes covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain at least $3.0 billion of unrestricted liquidity and a minimum ratio of appraised value of collateral to the outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement of 1.67 to 1.0, and restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, issue preferred stock, make investments, pay dividends or repurchase UAL’s common stock. The Credit Agreement contains events of default customary for this type of financing, including a cross default and cross acceleration provision to certain other material indebtedness of the Company.
	EETCs. In April 2014 and August 2013, United created separate EETC pass-through trusts, each of which issued pass-through certificates. The proceeds of the issuance of the pass-through certificates are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United and secured by its aircraft. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The pass-through certificates represent fractional undivided interests in the respective pass-through trusts and are not obligations of United. The payment obligations under the equipment notes are those of United. Proceeds received from the sale of pass-through certificates are initially held by a depositary in escrow for the benefit of the certificate holders until United issues equipment notes to the trust, which purchases such notes with a portion of the escrowed funds. These escrowed funds are not guaranteed by United and are not reported as debt on our consolidated balance sheet because the proceeds held by the depositary are not United’s assets. United expects to receive all proceeds from the 2013 EETC pass-through trusts by the end of 2014. Certain details of the pass-through trusts are as follows (in millions, except interest rate):
	EETC Date	Class		Principal				Final	Stated		Total debt		Proceeds		Remaining
								expected	interest		recorded		received from		proceeds from
								distribution	rate		as of March 31,		issuance of		issuance of debt
								date			2014		debt in the		to be received
													three months		in future
													ended		periods
													March 31,
													2014
	Apr-14	A		$	736			Apr-26		4.00%	$	—	$	—	$	736
	Apr-14	B			213			Apr-22		4.75%		—		—		213
	Aug-13	A			720			August 2025		4.30%		548		395		172
	Aug-13	B			209			Aug-21		5.38%		159		115		50
				$	1,878						$	707	$	510	$	1,171
	The table below presents contractual principal payments at March 31, 2014 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):
		UAL				United
	Last nine months of 2014	$	756			$	756
	2015		2,102				2,102
	2016		1,083				1,083
	2017		646				646
	2018		1,168				1,168
	After 2018		5,682				5,624
		$	11,437			$	11,379

Special_Charges

Special Charges	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Special Charges	'
	NOTE 10 - SPECIAL CHARGES
	For the three months ended March 31, special charges consisted of the following (in millions):
		2014		2013
	Integration-related costs	$	34	$	70
	Severance and benefits		14		14
	(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special (gains) losses, net		4		-3
	Additional costs associated with the temporarily grounded Boeing 787 aircraft		—		11
	Special charges		52		92
	Venezuela foreign exchange loss		21		—
	Income tax benefit		-1		—
	Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes	$	72	$	92
	Integration-related costs include compensation costs related to systems integration and training, new uniforms, relocation for employees and severance primarily associated with administrative headcount reductions.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recorded $14 million of severance and benefits. We currently expect to reduce up to 470 airport operations and catering positions at Hopkins International Airport (“Cleveland”) as a result of the previously announced capacity reductions and an additional 238 airport positions in Canada. In addition, the Company recorded $4 million of other charges related to asset impairments on certain intangible assets, losses on the sale of assets and other items.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recorded $21 million of losses due to exchange rate changes in Venezuela applicable to funds held in local currency. Approximately $100 million of the Company’s unrestricted cash balance was held as Venezuelan bolivars as of March 31, 2014. The Company is working with Venezuelan authorities regarding the timing of the repatriation of its funds held in local currency.
	During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company recorded $14 million associated with a voluntary program offered by United in which flight attendants took an unpaid 13-month leave of absence. The flight attendants continue to receive medical benefits and other company benefits while on leave under this program. Approximately 1,300 flight attendants opted to participate in the program. In addition, the Company recorded $11 million associated with the temporary grounding of its Boeing 787 aircraft. The charges are comprised of aircraft depreciation expense and dedicated personnel costs that the Company continues to incur while the aircraft are grounded. Also, the Company recorded a $5 million gain related to a contract termination and $2 million in losses on the sale of assets.
	Cleveland Capacity Reduction. In February 2014, the Company announced that it would be reducing its flying from Cleveland in stages beginning in April 2014. The Company will reduce its average daily departures from Cleveland by over 60 percent. The Company is currently evaluating its options regarding its long-term contractual commitments at Cleveland. The capacity reductions at Cleveland may result in special charges, which could be significant, related to our contractual commitments.
	Accruals
	The accrual for severance and medical costs was $69 million as of March 31, 2014, compared to $62 million as of March 31, 2013. The severance-related accrual as of March 31, 2014 is expected to be paid through 2015.

Significant_Accounting_Policie1

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Frequent Flyer Accounting	'
	Frequent Flyer Accounting. On March 30, 2014, US Airways exited Star Alliance. Effective with the exit date, the Company updated its estimated selling price for miles to a value based on the equivalent ticket value less fulfillment discount, which incorporates the expected redemption of miles. The equivalent ticket value used as the basis for the estimated selling price of miles is based on the prior 12 months’ weighted average equivalent ticket value of similar fares as those used to settle award redemptions while taking into consideration such factors as redemption pattern, cabin class, loyalty status and geographic region. This change in estimate will be applied on a prospective basis beginning April 1, 2014. The estimated impact of this change on consolidated revenue is expected to be an increase of approximately $75 million in 2014.
Related Party Receivables	'
	Related Party Receivables. At December 31, 2013, United had receivables from two affiliates, which were wholly-owned subsidiaries of UAL, of $232 million that were classified against stockholder’s equity. UAL transferred all of its equity interest in each of the two subsidiaries to United in the first quarter of 2014, and the transfers have been reflected as reductions in paid in capital.

Loss_Per_Share_Tables

Loss Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Computation of Earnings Per Share	'
	The table below represents the computation of UAL’s basic and diluted loss per share amounts and the number of securities that have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share amounts because they were antidilutive (in millions, except per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Basic and diluted loss per share:
	Loss available to common stockholders	$	-609	$	-417
	Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted		368		332
	Loss per share, basic and diluted	$	-1.66	$	-1.26
	Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:
	Restricted stock and stock options		2		4
	Convertible notes		28		61

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	'
	The tables below present the components of the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (“AOCI”) (in millions):
	UAL (a)	Pension and		Derivative		Investments		Total
		Other		Contracts		and Other
		Postretirement
		Liabilities
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	584	$	11	$	13	$	608
	Changes in value		-5		-10		—		-15
	Amounts reclassified to earnings		-16		3		—		-13
	Net current-period change		-21		-7		—		-28
	Balance at March 31, 2014	$	563	$	4	$	13	$	580
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	-1,042	$	-10	$	6	$	(1,046)
	Changes in value		—		-9		-2		-11
	Amounts reclassified to earnings		21		9		—		30
	Net current-period change		21		—		-2		19
	Balance at March 31, 2013	$	-1,021	$	-10	$	4	$	-1,027
	Details about AOCI Components	Amount Reclassified from AOCI to				Affected Line Item in
		Income				the Statements of
						Consolidated Operations
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
	Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings (b)	$	3	$	9	Aircraft fuel
	Amortization of pension and post-retirement items
	Amortization of unrecognized (gains) losses and prior service cost (credit) (b) (c)	$	-16	$	21	Salaries and related costs
	(a) UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United in 2013 and additional (losses) gains related to investments and other of $1 million and $1 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	(b) Income tax expense for these items was offset by the Company’s valuation allowance.
	(c) This AOCI component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement costs (see Note 5 of this report for additional details).

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'
	The Company’s net periodic benefit cost includes the following components (in millions):
		Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement
						Benefits
		Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
		March 31,				March 31,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Service cost	$	24	$	33	$	5	$	14
	Interest cost		51		47		22		28
	Expected return on plan assets		-45		-40		-1		-1
	Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		3		18		-19		3
	Total	$	33	$	58	$	7	$	44
Share-Based Compensation Expense	'
	The table below presents information related to share-based compensation (in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014		2013
	Share-based compensation expense (a)	$	32	$	27
		March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Unrecognized share-based compensation	$	90	$	44
	(a) Includes $3 million and $8 million of expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Financial_Instruments_and_Fair1

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	'
	The table below presents disclosures about the financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company’s financial statements (in millions):
		March 31, 2014										December 31, 2013
		Total			Level 1			Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
		UAL
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,009		$	3,009		$	—	$	—	$	3,220	$	3,220	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Asset-backed securities		796			—			796		—		694		—		694		—
	Corporate debt		667			—			667		—		685		—		685		—
	Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”)		315			—			315		—		301		—		301		—
	Auction rate securities		96			—			—		96		105		—		—		105
	U.S. government and agency notes		44			—			44		—		38		—		38		—
	Other fixed income securities		97			—			97		—		78		—		78		—
	Enhanced equipment trust certificates (“EETC”)		59			—			—		59		61		—		—		61
	Fuel derivatives, net		48			—			48		—		104		—		104		—
	Foreign currency derivatives		1			—			1		—		1		—		1		—
	Restricted cash		389			389			—		—		395		395		—		—
		United
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,003		$	3,003		$	—	$	—	$	3,214	$	3,214	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Asset-backed securities		796			—			796		—		694		—		694		—
	Corporate debt		667			—			667		—		685		—		685		—
	CDARS		315			—			315		—		301		—		301		—
	Auction rate securities		96			—			—		96		105		—		—		105
	U.S. government and agency notes		44			—			44		—		38		—		38		—
	Other fixed income securities		97			—			97		—		78		—		78		—
	EETC		59			—			—		59		61		—		—		61
	Fuel derivatives, net		48			—			48		—		104		—		104		—
	Foreign currency derivatives		1			—			1		—		1		—		1		—
	Restricted cash		389			389			—		—		395		395		—		—
	Convertible debt derivative asset		584			—			—		584		480		—		—		480
	Convertible debt option liability		-352			—			—		-352		-270		—		—		-270
Activity for "Level Three" Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	'
	The table below presents disclosures about the activity for “Level 3” financial assets and financial liabilities (in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014										2013
		UAL and United						United				UAL and United				United
		Student			EETC			Convertible		Convertible		Student		EETC		Convertible		Convertible
		Loan-Related						Debt		Debt		Loan-Related				Debt		Debt
		Auction Rate						Supplemental		Conversion		Auction Rate				Supplemental		Conversion
		Securities						Derivative		Option		Securities				Derivative		Option
								Asset		Liability						Asset		Liability
	Balance at January 1	$	105		$	61		$	480	$	-270	$	116	$	63	$	268	$	-128
	Purchases, (sales), issuances and settlements (net)		-10			-3			—		—		-10		-2		—		—
	Gains and (losses):
	Reported in earnings:
	Realized		1			—			—		—		2		—		—		—
	Unrealized		—			—			104		-82		1		—		145		-81
	Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)		—			1			—		—		-1		—		—		—
	Balance at March 31	$	96		$	59		$	584	$	-352	$	108	$	61	$	413	$	-209
Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments	'
	The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above (in millions):
		Fair Value of Debt by Fair Value Hierarchy Level
		March 31, 2014												December 31, 2013
		Carrying			Fair Value									Carrying		Fair Value
		Amount												Amount
					Total			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3				Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	UAL debt	$	11,276		$	12,536		$	—	$	8,684	$	3,852	$	11,539	$	12,695	$	—	$	8,829	$	3,866
	United debt		11,174			12,234			—		8,382		3,852		11,388		12,249		—		8,383		3,866
Fair Value Methodology for Financial Instruments	'
	Fair value of the financial instruments included in the tables above was determined as follows:
	Description	Fair Value Methodology
	Cash and cash equivalents	The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these assets.
	Short-term investments and Restricted cash	Fair value is based on (a) the trading prices of the investment or similar instruments, (b) an income approach, which uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts into a single present amount based on current market expectations about those future amounts when observable trading prices are not available, (c) internally-developed models of the expected future cash flows related to the securities, or (d) broker quotes obtained by third-party valuation services.
	Fuel derivatives	Derivative contracts are privately negotiated contracts and are not exchange traded. Fair value measurements are estimated with option pricing models that employ observable inputs. Inputs to the valuation models include contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, fuel price curves and measures of volatility, among others.
	Foreign currency derivatives	Fair value is determined with a formula utilizing observable inputs. Significant inputs to the valuation models include contractual terms, risk-free interest rates and forward exchange rates.
	Debt	Fair values were based on either market prices or the discounted amount of future cash flows using our current incremental rate of borrowing for similar liabilities.
	Convertible debt derivative asset and option liability	United used a binomial lattice model to value the conversion options and the supplemental derivative assets. Significant binomial model inputs that are not objectively determinable include volatility and the Company’s credit risk component of the discount rate.
Level 3	'
Fair Value Methodology for Financial Instruments	'
	Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements (in millions)
	Item	Fair Value at			Valuation Technique		Unobservable Input	Range
		March 31, 2014						(Weighted Average)
	Auction rate securities	$	96		Valuation Service / Broker Quotes		Broker quotes (a)	NA
	EETC		59		Discounted Cash Flows		Structure credit risk (b)	4%
	Convertible debt		584		Binomial Lattice Model		Expected volatility (c)	40% - 60% (41%)
	derivative asset						Own credit risk (d)	5%
	Convertible debt		(352	)	Binomial Lattice Model		Expected volatility (c)	40% - 60% (42%)
	option liability						Own credit risk (d)	5%
	(a) Broker quotes obtained by a third-party valuation service.
	(b) Represents the credit risk premium of the EETC structure above the risk-free rate that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
	(c) Represents the range in volatility estimates that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
	(d) Represents the range of Company-specific risk adjustments that the Company has determined market participants would use as a model input.

Hedging_Activities_Tables

Hedging Activities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Description of Derivative Instruments	'
	The Company’s derivatives were reported in its consolidated balance sheets as follows (in millions):
	Classification	Balance Sheet Location		March 31,				December 31,
				2014				2013
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	9			$	19
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			5				6
	Total assets			$	14			$	25
	Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	32			$	70
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			4				9
	Total assets			$	36			$	79
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		$	-2			$	—
	Total liabilities			$	-2			$	—
	Total derivatives
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	41			$	89
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			9				15
	Total assets			$	50			$	104
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		$	-2			$	—
Schedule of Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments	'
	The following tables present the impact of derivative instruments and their location within the Company’s unaudited statements of consolidated operations (in millions):
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
		Amount of  Loss								Loss				Amount of Loss
		Recognized								Reclassified from				Recognized in
		in AOCI on Derivatives								AOCI  into				Nonoperating income
		(Effective Portion)								Fuel Expense				(expense):  Miscellaneous, net
														(Ineffective Portion)
		Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
		March 31,								March 31,				March 31,
		2014				2013				2014		2013		2014		2013
	Fuel contracts	$	-10			$	-9			$	-3	$	-9	$	-1	$	—
Schedule of Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedges Gains (Losses)	'
	Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
	Fuel contracts
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014				2013
	Amount of gain (loss) recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net	$	-40			$	50
Offsetting Assets and Liabilities	'
	The following table shows the potential net fair value positions (including fuel derivatives and related collateral) had we elected to offset. The table reflects offset at the counterparty level (in millions):
		March 31,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Receivables	$	41			$	89
	Other assets: Other, net		7				15
	Hedge derivatives, net	$	48			$	104

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Firm Commitments to Purchase Aircraft	'
	Commitments. As of March 31, 2014, United had firm commitments to purchase aircraft from The Boeing Company (“Boeing”), Embraer S.A. (“Embraer”) and Airbus S.A.S. (“Airbus”) presented in the table below:
	Aircraft Type	Number of Firm
		Commitments (a)
	Airbus A350-1000		35
	Boeing 737-900ER		53
	Boeing 737 MAX 9		100
	Boeing 787-8/-9/-10		55
	Embraer EMB175		29
	(a) United also has options and purchase rights for additional aircraft.
Schedule of Acquisition of Aircrafts and Related Spare Engines	'
	The table below summarizes United’s commitments as of March 31, 2014, which primarily relate to the acquisition of aircraft and related spare engines, aircraft improvements and include other commitments primarily to acquire information technology services and assets (in billions):
	Last nine months of 2014	$	2.5
	2015		2.8
	2016		2.0
	2017		1.5
	2018		2.1
	After 2018		12.5
		$	23.4

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Details of Pass Through Trusts	'
	Certain details of the pass-through trusts are as follows (in millions, except interest rate):
	EETC Date	Class		Principal				Final	Stated		Total debt		Proceeds		Remaining
								expected	interest		recorded		received from		proceeds from
								distribution	rate		as of March 31,		issuance of		issuance of debt
								date			2014		debt in the		to be received
													three months		in future
													ended		periods
													March 31,
													2014
	Apr-14	A		$	736			Apr-26		4.00%	$	—	$	—	$	736
	Apr-14	B			213			Apr-22		4.75%		—		—		213
	Aug-13	A			720			August 2025		4.30%		548		395		172
	Aug-13	B			209			Aug-21		5.38%		159		115		50
				$	1,878						$	707	$	510	$	1,171
Contractual Principal Payments	'
	The table below presents contractual principal payments at March 31, 2014 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):
		UAL				United
	Last nine months of 2014	$	756			$	756
	2015		2,102				2,102
	2016		1,083				1,083
	2017		646				646
	2018		1,168				1,168
	After 2018		5,682				5,624
		$	11,437			$	11,379

Special_Charges_Tables

Special Charges (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Components of Special Charges	'
	For the three months ended March 31, special charges consisted of the following (in millions):
		2014		2013
	Integration-related costs	$	34	$	70
	Severance and benefits		14		14
	(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special (gains) losses, net		4		-3
	Additional costs associated with the temporarily grounded Boeing 787 aircraft		—		11
	Special charges		52		92
	Venezuela foreign exchange loss		21		—
	Income tax benefit		-1		—
	Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes	$	72	$	92

Significant_Accounting_Policie2

Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	Frequent Flyer	United Airlines, Inc.
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'
Estimated impact of change on consolidated revenue	$75	'
Receivable from related parties	'	$232

Computation_of_Earnings_Per_Sh

Computation of Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Basic and diluted loss per share:	'	'
Loss available to common stockholders	($609)	($417)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted	368	332
Loss per share, basic and diluted	($1.66)	($1.26)
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:	'	'
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts	28	61
Restricted Stock And Stock Options	'	'
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:	'	'
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts	2	4

Earnings_loss_Per_Share_Additi

Earnings (loss) Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 20, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2011
Computation Of Earnings Per Share Line Items	'	'	'
Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes exchanged	'	$202	'
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'	'
Computation Of Earnings Per Share Line Items	'	'	'
Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes exchanged	'	156	'
United Airlines, Inc. | Unsecured Debt	'	'	'
Computation Of Earnings Per Share Line Items	'	'	'
Common stock issued in exchange for convertible notes	5	5	'
Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes exchanged	156	156	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	'	'2021	'
Debt instrument stated interest rate	'	4.50%	4.50%
Debt instrument conversion rate	30.6419	30.6419	'
6% Convertible Senior Notes	'	'	'
Computation Of Earnings Per Share Line Items	'	'	'
Common stock issued in exchange for convertible notes	'	5	'
Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes exchanged	'	$46	'
Debt instrument effective interest rate	'	6.00%	'
Debt instrument, maturity date	'	'2029	'

Components_of_Accumulated_Othe

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities

Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities

Derivative Contracts

Derivative Contracts

Other

Other

Other

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Beginning Balance

$608

[1]

($1,046)

[1]

$584

[1]

($1,042)

[1]

$11

[1]

($10)

[1]

$6

[1]

$13

[1]

$13

[1]

Changes in value

-15

[1]

-11

[1]

-5

[1]

'

-10

[1]

-9

[1]

-2

[1]

'

'

Amounts reclassified to earnings

-13

[1]

30

[1]

-16

[1]

21

[1]

3

[1]

9

[1]

'

'

'

Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments

-28

[1]

19

[1]

-21

[1]

21

[1]

-7

[1]

'

-2

[1]

'

'

Ending Balance

$580

[1]

($1,027)

[1]

$563

[1]

($1,021)

[1]

$4

[1]

($10)

[1]

$4

[1]

$13

[1]

$13

[1]

[1]

UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United in 2013 and additional (losses) gains related to investments and other of $1 million and $1 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Details_about_Accumulated_Othe

Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Salaries And Related Costs	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Amortization of unrecognized (gains) losses and prior service cost (credit)	($16)	[1],[2]	$21	[1],[2]
Fuel Oil Contract | Cash Flow Hedging | Aircraft Fuel	'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'
Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings	$3	[1]	$9	[1]
[1]	Income tax expense for these items was offset by the Company's valuation allowance.
[2]	This AOCI component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement costs (see Note 5 of this report for additional details).

Components_of_Accumulated_Othe1

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (Parenthetical) (Detail) (United Airlines, Inc., USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Income tax (expense) benefit	'	$6	$6
Additional (losses) gains related to investments and other	$1	'	$1

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'
Federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%

Components_of_Net_Periodic_Ben

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Pension Benefits	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	$24	$33
Interest cost	51	47
Expected return on plan assets	-45	-40
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)	3	18
Total	33	58
Other Postretirement Benefits	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	5	14
Interest cost	22	28
Expected return on plan assets	-1	-1
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)	-19	3
Total	$7	$44

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Employer contribution to tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans	'	$57
Number of days used to compute performance period average closing price of restricted stock units	'20 days	'
Minimum	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of pre-tax earnings paid for profit sharing plan	'	5.00%
Pre-tax profit excluding special items, profit sharing expense and share-based compensation program expense profit sharing threshold	'	$10
Maximum	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of pre-tax earnings paid for profit sharing plan	'	20.00%
Restricted Stock	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Share-Based Compensation, award granted	0.3	'
Share-Based Compensation, vesting period	'3 years	'
RSUs	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Share-Based Compensation, award granted	0.5	'
Share-Based Compensation, vesting period	'3 years	'
Performance Shares	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Share-Based Compensation, vesting period	'3 years	'
Share-Based Compensation, award granted	0.6	'
Share-Based Compensation, vesting date	31-Dec-16	'

ShareBased_Compensation_Expens

Share-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'		'
Share-based compensation expense	$32	[1]	$27	[1]	'
Unrecognized share-based compensation	$90		'		$44
[1]	Includes $3 million and $8 million of expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

ShareBased_Compensation_Expens1

Share-Based Compensation Expense (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Expense recognized in integration-related costs	$34	$70
Special Charges	'	'
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Expense recognized in integration-related costs	$3	$8

Financial_Assets_and_Liabiliti

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$3,009	$3,220
Restricted cash	389	395
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	3,003	3,214
Restricted cash	389	395
Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	796	694
Asset-backed Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	796	694
Corporate Debt	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	667	685
Corporate Debt | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	667	685
CDARS	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	315	301
CDARS | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	315	301
Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	96	105
Auction Rate Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	96	105
U.S. Government And Agency Notes	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	44	38
U.S. Government And Agency Notes | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	44	38
Other Fixed Income Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	97	78
Other Fixed Income Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	97	78
EETC	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
EETC	59	61
EETC | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
EETC	59	61
Fuel Derivatives, Net	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	48	104
Fuel Derivatives, Net | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	48	104
Foreign Currency Derivatives, Net	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	1	1
Foreign Currency Derivatives, Net | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	1	1
Convertible Debt Derivative Asset | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt derivative asset	584	480
Convertible Debt Option Liability | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt option liability	-352	-270
Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	3,009	3,220
Restricted cash	389	395
Level 1 | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	3,003	3,214
Restricted cash	389	395
Level 2 | Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	796	694
Level 2 | Asset-backed Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	796	694
Level 2 | Corporate Debt	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	667	685
Level 2 | Corporate Debt | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	667	685
Level 2 | CDARS	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	315	301
Level 2 | CDARS | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	315	301
Level 2 | U.S. Government And Agency Notes	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	44	38
Level 2 | U.S. Government And Agency Notes | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	44	38
Level 2 | Other Fixed Income Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	97	78
Level 2 | Other Fixed Income Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	97	78
Level 2 | Fuel Derivatives, Net	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	48	104
Level 2 | Fuel Derivatives, Net | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	48	104
Level 2 | Foreign Currency Derivatives, Net	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	1	1
Level 2 | Foreign Currency Derivatives, Net | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	1	1
Level 3 | Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	96	105
Level 3 | Auction Rate Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	96	105
Level 3 | EETC	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
EETC	59	61
Level 3 | EETC | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
EETC	59	61
Level 3 | Convertible Debt Derivative Asset | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt derivative asset	584	480
Level 3 | Convertible Debt Option Liability | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Convertible debt option liability	($352)	($270)

Financial_Instruments_and_Fair2

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Asset-backed Securities | Minimum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	'1 year
Asset-backed Securities | Maximum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	'40 years
Corporate Debt | Minimum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	'1 year
Corporate Debt | Maximum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	'21 years
Auction Rate Securities | Minimum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	'18 years
Auction Rate Securities | Maximum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	'32 years
CDARS | Maximum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	'1 year
U.S. Government and Other Securities | Maximum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	'1 year
EETC | Maximum	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Available-for-sale securities maturity, year	'2019
6% convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2030	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument convertible stated interest rate	6.00%
Debt instrument maturity year	'2030
4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015	'
Fair Value [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument convertible stated interest rate	4.50%
Debt instrument maturity year	'2015

Activity_for_Level_Three_Finan

Activity for "Level Three" Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Ual And United | Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning Balance	$105	$116
Purchases, (sales), issuances and settlements (net)	-10	-10
Realized	1	2
Unrealized	'	1
Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)	'	-1
Ending Balance	96	108
Ual And United | EETC	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning Balance	61	63
Purchases, (sales), issuances and settlements (net)	-3	-2
Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)	1	'
Ending Balance	59	61
United Airlines, Inc. | Convertible Debt Derivative Asset	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning Balance	480	268
Unrealized	104	145
Ending Balance	584	413
United Airlines, Inc. | Convertible Debt Option Liability	'	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]	'	'
Beginning Balance	-270	-128
Purchases, (sales), issuances and settlements (net)	'	'
Realized	'	'
Unrealized	-82	-81
Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'
Ending Balance	($352)	($209)

Carrying_Values_and_Estimated_

Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$11,437	'
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	11,276	11,539
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	12,536	12,695
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure | Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	8,684	8,829
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure | Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	3,852	3,866
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	11,379	'
United Airlines, Inc. | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	11,174	11,388
United Airlines, Inc. | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	12,234	12,249
United Airlines, Inc. | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure | Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	8,382	8,383
United Airlines, Inc. | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure | Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$3,852	$3,866

Quantitative_Information_about

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Auction Rate Securities	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 Financial Instruments, asset	$96
Valuation Technique	'Valuation Service / Broker Quotes
Unobservable Input	'Broker quotes	[1]
EETC	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 Financial Instruments, asset	59
Valuation Technique	'Discounted Cash Flows
Unobservable Input	'Structure credit risk	[2]
EETC | Structure Credit Risk	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, weighted average percentage	4.00%
Convertible Debt Derivative Asset	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 Financial Instruments, asset	584
Valuation Technique	'Binomial Lattice Model
Unobservable Input	'Expected volatility Own credit risk	[3],[4]
Convertible Debt Derivative Asset | Expected Volatility	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, weighted average percentage	41.00%
Convertible Debt Derivative Asset | Own Credit Risk	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, weighted average percentage	5.00%
Convertible Debt Option Liability	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 Financial Instruments, liability	($352)
Valuation Technique	'Binomial Lattice Model
Unobservable Input	'Expected volatility Own credit risk	[3],[4]
Convertible Debt Option Liability | Expected Volatility	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, weighted average percentage	42.00%
Convertible Debt Option Liability | Own Credit Risk	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, weighted average percentage	5.00%
Minimum | Convertible Debt Derivative Asset | Expected Volatility	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, percentage	40.00%
Minimum | Convertible Debt Option Liability | Expected Volatility	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, percentage	40.00%
Maximum | Convertible Debt Derivative Asset | Expected Volatility	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, percentage	60.00%
Maximum | Convertible Debt Option Liability | Expected Volatility	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, percentage	60.00%
[1]	Broker quotes obtained by a third-party valuation service.
[2]	Represents the credit risk premium of the EETC structure above the risk-free rate that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
[3]	Represents the range in volatility estimates that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
[4]	Represents the range of Company-specific risk adjustments that the Company has determined market participants would use as a model input.

Hedging_Activities_Additional_

Hedging Activities - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]	'
Fuel hedges expiration date	'2016-03
2014 Projected	'
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]	'
Percentage of projected fuel requirements	22.00%
Volume of fuel hedging	668,000,000
2015 Projected	'
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]	'
Percentage of projected fuel requirements	16.00%
Volume of fuel hedging	650,000,000
2016 Projected	'
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]	'
Percentage of projected fuel requirements	1.00%
Volume of fuel hedging	6,000,000

Description_of_Derivative_Inst

Description of Derivative Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	$50	$104
Receivables	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	41	89
Other Assets	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	9	15
Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, liabilities	-2	'
Hedge Derivatives, Net | Cash Flow Hedging	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	14	25
Hedge Derivatives, Net | Cash Flow Hedging | Receivables	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	9	19
Hedge Derivatives, Net | Cash Flow Hedging | Other Assets	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	5	6
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	36	79
Fuel contracts, liabilities	-2	'
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Other Assets	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	4	9
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, liabilities	-2	'
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging | Receivables	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	$32	$70

Schedule_of_Gains_Losses_on_De

Schedule of Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments (Detail) (Hedge Derivatives, Net, Cash Flow Hedging, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Hedge Derivatives, Net | Cash Flow Hedging	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	($10)	($9)
Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Fuel Expense	-3	-9
Amount of Gain Recognized in Nonoperating income (expense) (Ineffective Portion)	($1)	'

Schedule_of_Derivative_Instrum

Schedule of Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedges Gains (Losses) (Detail) (Not Designated as Hedging Instrument, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net	($40)	$50

Offsetting_Assets_and_Liabilit

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	$48	$104
Receivables	'	'
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	41	89
Other Assets	'	'
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	$7	$15

Firm_Commitments_to_Purchase_A

Firm Commitments to Purchase Aircraft (Detail) (United Airlines, Inc., Capital Addition Purchase Commitments)	Mar. 31, 2014
	Aircraft
Airbus A350-1000 aircraft	'
Commitments [Line Items]	'
Number of new aircraft committed to purchase	35	[1]
Boeing 737-900ER aircraft	'
Commitments [Line Items]	'
Number of new aircraft committed to purchase	53	[1]
Boeing 737 MAX 9 Aircraft	'
Commitments [Line Items]	'
Number of new aircraft committed to purchase	100	[1]
Boeing 787-8/-9/-10	'
Commitments [Line Items]	'
Number of new aircraft committed to purchase	55	[1]
Embraer EMB175 aircraft	'
Commitments [Line Items]	'
Number of new aircraft committed to purchase	29	[1]
[1]	United also has options and purchase rights for additional aircraft.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 27, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Apr. 24, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds

Floating Rate Debt

Fixed Rate Debt

Loans And Leases From Non U S Entities

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Maximum

United Airlines, Inc.

Capital Addition Purchase Commitments

Capital Addition Purchase Commitments

Capital Addition Purchase Commitments

Capital Addition Purchase Commitments

Capital Addition Purchase Commitments

Capital Addition Purchase Commitments

Capital Addition Purchase Commitments

Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds

Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds

Loans And Leases From Non U S Entities

Employee

Subsequent Event

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

Embraer EMB175 aircraft

Boeing 737-900ER aircraft

Boeing 787-8

Boeing 787-9

Embraer EMB175 aircraft

Minimum

Maximum

Aircraft

Aircraft

Aircraft

Aircraft

Aircraft

Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

New aircraft, scheduled delivery date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2014

'2025

Number of aircraft expected to be delivered

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

19

2

2

16

'

'

Number of aircraft without financing arrangement expected to be delivered

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8

'

'

'

'

'

'

Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure

'

'

'

$1,900,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating leases obligations

'

'

'

1,600,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Capital leases obligations

'

'

'

269,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, maturity year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2015

'

'2038

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument principal amount

'

'

'

'

2,000,000,000

264,000,000

2,200,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, remaining terms (years)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'12 years

'

'12 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility

'

'

1,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Capacity available under the revolving credit facility

'

$1,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of employees

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

87,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of employees represented by various U.S. labor organizations

80.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Schedule_of_Acquisition_of_Air

Schedule of Acquisition of Aircrafts and Related Spare Engines (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'
Last nine months of 2014	$2.50
2015	2.8
2016	2
2017	1.5
2018	2.1
After 2018	12.5
Total commitments	$23.40

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

2 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 27, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 27, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 27, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 27, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Jan. 17, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Jun. 30, 2011

Feb. 20, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Term Loan Facility

Term Loan Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Interest Rate Floor

LIBOR

LIBOR

LIBOR

Certain Market Interest Rates

6% Convertible Senior Notes

8% notes due 2024

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

Term Loan Facility

Term Loan Facility

Term Loan Facility

Unsecured Debt

Unsecured Debt

Unsecured Debt

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument effective interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.00%

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'

'

'

'

Common stock issued in exchange for convertible notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5

'

'

'

5

5

Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes exchanged

'

$202,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$46,000,000

'

$156,000,000

'

$156,000,000

$156,000,000

Debt instrument, maturity date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2029

'

'

'

'

'2021

Outstanding balance of debt instrument

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

58,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate principal amount of debt redeemed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

400,000,000

'

'

'

'

Repurchased debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

570,000,000

'

'

Debt instrument stated interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.50%

'

4.50%

Aggregate principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

726,000,000

'

'

Debt instrument conversion rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30.6419

30.6419

Credit Agreement

'

'

'

900,000,000

'

1,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument maturity date

'

'

1-Apr-19

1-Apr-19

'

1-Apr-18

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Available under revolving credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit agreement refinanced

'

'

'

'

893,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.00%

3.00%

2.75%

2.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Quarterly principal repayment amount

'

'

0.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Commencement date of installment payment

'

'

30-Jun-13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Commitment fee percentage

'

'

0.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unrestricted liquidity requirement

$3,000,000,000

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Minimum ratio of appraised value of collateral to the outstanding obligations

1.67

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Details_of_Pass_Through_Trusts

Details of Pass Through Trusts (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	$147	$109
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	147	109
United Airlines, Inc. | Class A Pass Through Certificates | April 2014	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal	736	'
Final expected distribution date	'2026-04	'
Stated interest rate	4.00%	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	736	'
United Airlines, Inc. | Class A Pass Through Certificates | August 2013	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal	720	'
Final expected distribution date	'2025-08	'
Stated interest rate	4.30%	'
Total debt recorded	548	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	395	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	172	'
United Airlines, Inc. | Class B Pass Through Certificates | April 2014	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal	213	'
Final expected distribution date	'2022-04	'
Stated interest rate	4.75%	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	213	'
United Airlines, Inc. | Class B Pass Through Certificates | August 2013	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal	209	'
Final expected distribution date	'2021-08	'
Stated interest rate	5.38%	'
Total debt recorded	159	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	115	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	50	'
United Airlines, Inc. | EETC	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal	1,878	'
Total debt recorded	707	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	510	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	$1,171	'

Contractual_Principal_Payments

Contractual Principal Payments (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Last nine months of 2014	$756
2015	2,102
2016	1,083
2017	646
2018	1,168
After 2018	5,682
Long-term debt	11,437
United Airlines, Inc.	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Last nine months of 2014	756
2015	2,102
2016	1,083
2017	646
2018	1,168
After 2018	5,624
Long-term debt	$11,379

Components_of_Special_Charges_

Components of Special Charges (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Special Charges [Line Items]	'	'
Integration-related costs	$34	$70
Severance and benefits	14	14
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special (gains) losses, net	4	-3
Additional costs associated with the temporarily grounded Boeing 787 aircraft	'	11
Special charges	52	92
Venezuela foreign exchange loss	21	'
Income tax benefit	-1	'
Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes	$72	$92

Special_Charges_Additional_Inf

Special Charges - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 20, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
		Attendant	Venezuelan bolívar fuerte	Cleveland	Cleveland	CANADA
				Maximum	Weighted Average	Maximum
				Operation		Position
Special Charges [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Severance and benefits	$14	$14	'	'	'	'
Reductions in number airport operations and catering positions in Cleveland	'	'	'	470	'	'
Number of Airport positions reduced	'	'	'	'	'	238
Asset impairments on certain intangible assets	4	'	'	'	'	'
Losses due to the recent exchange rate changes implemented in Venezuela	21	'	'	'	'	'
Unrestricted cash balance held as Venezuelan bolivars	'	'	100	'	'	'
Number of flight attendants voluntarily on leave	'	1,300	'	'	'	'
Temporary grounding of 787 aircraft charges	'	11	'	'	'	'
Gain related to contract termination	'	5	'	'	'	'
Loss on sale of asset	'	-2	'	'	'	'
Percentage of flight reductions in average daily departures from Cleveland	'	'	'	'	60.00%	'
Accrual severance and medical costs	$69	$62	'	'	'	'
Severance-related accrual expected payment date	'2015	'	'	'	'	'