United Airlines 10-Q 23 Oct 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 15, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
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	'	369,070,761
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		9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating revenue:	'	'	'	'
Passenger-Mainline	$7,414	$7,025	$20,410	$19,792
Passenger-Regional	1,900	1,893	5,269	5,353
Total passenger revenue	9,314	8,918	25,679	25,145
Cargo	237	199	678	662
Other operating revenue	1,012	1,111	3,231	3,143
Total revenue	10,563	10,228	29,588	28,950
Operating expense:	'	'	'	'
Aircraft fuel	3,127	3,262	9,145	9,380
Salaries and related costs	2,344	2,209	6,684	6,511
Regional capacity purchase	597	621	1,747	1,837
Landing fees and other rent	567	540	1,706	1,544
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs	435	472	1,364	1,390
Depreciation and amortization	422	435	1,248	1,268
Distribution expenses	375	377	1,039	1,052
Aircraft rent	222	231	668	706
Special charges	43	211	264	355
Other operating expenses	1,240	1,362	3,975	3,893
Total operating expenses	9,372	9,720	27,840	27,936
Operating income	1,191	508	1,748	1,014
Nonoperating income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	-186	-195	-559	-590
Interest capitalized	13	12	40	35
Interest income	8	5	17	16
Miscellaneous, net	-106	52	-141	-48
Total other expense	-271	-126	-643	-587
Income before income taxes	920	382	1,105	427
Income tax expense (benefit)	-4	3	1	-4
Net income	924	379	1,104	431
Earnings per share, basic	$2.49	$1.06	$2.97	$1.25
Earnings per share, diluted	$2.37	$0.98	$2.84	$1.15
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'	'	'
Operating revenue:	'	'	'	'
Passenger-Mainline	7,414	7,025	20,410	19,792
Passenger-Regional	1,900	1,893	5,269	5,353
Total passenger revenue	9,314	8,918	25,679	25,145
Cargo	237	199	678	662
Other operating revenue	1,012	1,113	3,231	3,149
Total revenue	10,563	10,230	29,588	28,956
Operating expense:	'	'	'	'
Aircraft fuel	3,127	3,262	9,145	9,380
Salaries and related costs	2,344	2,209	6,684	6,511
Regional capacity purchase	597	621	1,747	1,837
Landing fees and other rent	567	540	1,706	1,544
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs	435	472	1,364	1,390
Depreciation and amortization	422	435	1,248	1,268
Distribution expenses	375	377	1,039	1,052
Aircraft rent	222	231	668	706
Special charges	43	211	264	355
Other operating expenses	1,245	1,362	3,972	3,892
Total operating expenses	9,377	9,720	27,837	27,935
Operating income	1,186	510	1,751	1,021
Nonoperating income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	-187	-195	-564	-586
Interest capitalized	13	12	40	35
Interest income	8	5	17	16
Miscellaneous, net	-91	50	-121	18
Total other expense	-257	-128	-628	-517
Income before income taxes	929	382	1,123	504
Income tax expense (benefit)	-4	4	1	4
Net income	$933	$378	$1,122	$500

Statements_of_Consolidated_Com

Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Net income	$924		$379		$1,104		$431
Other comprehensive income (loss), net change related to:	'		'		'		'
Fuel derivative financial instruments	-120		30		-95		20
Employee benefit plans	-82		51		-121		531
Investments and other	1		-5		-4		2
Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments	-201	[1]	76	[1]	-220	[1]	553	[1]
Total comprehensive income, net	723		455		884		984
United Airlines, Inc.	'		'		'		'
Net income	933		378		1,122		500
Other comprehensive income (loss), net change related to:	'		'		'		'
Fuel derivative financial instruments	-120		30		-95		20
Employee benefit plans	-82		51		-121		531
Investments and other	1		-5		-4		3
Other	'		'		'		6
Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments	-201		76		-220		560
Total comprehensive income, net	$732		$454		$902		$1,060
[1]	UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United and additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$3,117		$3,220
Short-term investments	2,397		1,901
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	5,514		5,121
Restricted cash	32		31
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2014-$24; 2013-$13)	1,559		1,503
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance (2014-$161; 2013-$162)	700		667
Deferred income taxes	582		676
Prepaid expenses and other	838		704
Total current assets	9,225		8,702
Operating property and equipment: Owned-	'		'
Flight equipment	20,367		18,786
Other property and equipment	3,934		3,687
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	24,301		22,473
Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-6,894		-6,080
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	17,407		16,393
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	734		706
Capital leases-	'		'
Flight equipment	1,343		1,490
Other property and equipment	321		307
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,664		1,797
Less-Accumulated amortization	-862		-849
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	802		948
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	18,943		18,047
Other assets:	'		'
Goodwill	4,523		4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization (2014-$1,019; 2013-$933)	4,330		4,436
Restricted cash	284		364
Other, net	706		740
Other assets total	9,843		10,063
Total assets	38,011		36,812
Current liabilities:	'		'
Advance ticket sales	4,514		3,405
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,090		2,369
Accounts payable	2,085		2,087
Accrued salaries and benefits	1,651		1,696
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,340		1,368
Current maturities of capital leases	99		117
Other	1,085		1,065
Total current liabilities	12,864		12,107
Long-term debt	9,988		10,171
Long-term obligations under capital leases	667		753
Other liabilities and deferred credits:	'		'
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,820		2,535
Postretirement benefit liability	1,684		1,703
Pension liability	1,517		1,650
Advanced purchase of miles	1,170		1,338
Deferred income taxes	1,570		1,662
Lease fair value adjustment, net	496		626
Other	1,371		1,283
Total non-current liabilities	10,628		10,797
Commitments and contingencies	'		'
Stockholder's equity:	'		'
Preferred stock	'		'
Common stock	4		4
Additional capital invested	7,620		7,425
Accumulated deficit	-3,911		-5,015
Stock held in treasury, at cost	-237		-38
Accumulated other comprehensive income	388	[1]	608	[1]
Total stockholders' equity	3,864		2,984
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	38,011		36,812
United Airlines, Inc.	'		'
Current assets:	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	3,111		3,214
Short-term investments	2,397		1,901
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	5,508		5,115
Restricted cash	32		31
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2014-$24; 2013-$13)	1,559		1,503
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance (2014-$161; 2013-$162)	700		667
Deferred income taxes	582		674
Prepaid expenses and other	887		705
Total current assets	9,268		8,695
Operating property and equipment: Owned-	'		'
Flight equipment	20,367		18,786
Other property and equipment	3,934		3,687
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	24,301		22,473
Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-6,894		-6,080
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	17,407		16,393
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	734		706
Capital leases-	'		'
Flight equipment	1,343		1,490
Other property and equipment	321		307
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,664		1,797
Less-Accumulated amortization	-862		-849
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	802		948
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	18,943		18,047
Other assets:	'		'
Goodwill	4,523		4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization (2014-$1,019; 2013-$933)	4,330		4,436
Restricted cash	284		364
Other, net	1,204		1,221
Other assets total	10,341		10,544
Total assets	38,552		37,286
Current liabilities:	'		'
Advance ticket sales	4,514		3,405
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,090		2,369
Accounts payable	2,089		2,092
Accrued salaries and benefits	1,651		1,696
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,340		1,368
Current maturities of capital leases	99		117
Payables to related parties	'		114
Other	1,086		1,064
Total current liabilities	12,869		12,225
Long-term debt	9,892		10,020
Long-term obligations under capital leases	667		753
Other liabilities and deferred credits:	'		'
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,820		2,535
Postretirement benefit liability	1,684		1,703
Pension liability	1,517		1,650
Advanced purchase of miles	1,170		1,338
Deferred income taxes	1,571		1,661
Lease fair value adjustment, net	496		626
Other	1,667		1,552
Total non-current liabilities	10,925		11,065
Commitments and contingencies	'		'
Stockholder's equity:	'		'
Common stock	'		'
Additional capital invested	7,433		7,590
Accumulated deficit	-3,619		-4,743
Accumulated other comprehensive income	388		608
Receivable from related parties	-3		-232
Total stockholders' equity	4,199		3,223
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$38,552		$37,286
[1]	UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United and additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$24	$13
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, obsolescence allowance	161	162
Intangibles, accumulated amortization	1,019	933
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common shares, authorized	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common shares, outstanding	369,728,970	362,283,555
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	24	13
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, obsolescence allowance	161	162
Intangibles, accumulated amortization	$1,019	$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 $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by operating activities	$2,732	$1,778
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-1,345	-1,399
Increase in short-term and other investments, net	-471	-22
Decrease in restricted cash, net	79	35
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	73	65
Other, net	34	22
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,630	-1,299
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Payments of long-term debt	-2,001	-1,965
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,177	819
Repurchases of common stock	-220	'
Principal payments under capital leases	-81	-98
Other, net	-80	-70
Net cash used in financing activities	-1,205	-1,314
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-103	-835
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	3,220	4,770
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,117	3,935
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:	'	'
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt and capital leases	765	239
Exchanges of certain convertible notes for common stock	202	240
Airport construction financing	14	35
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,623	1,774
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Capital expenditures	-1,345	-1,399
Increase in short-term and other investments, net	-471	-22
Decrease in restricted cash, net	79	36
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	73	65
Other, net	34	20
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,630	-1,300
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Payments of long-term debt	-2,001	-1,965
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,177	819
Principal payments under capital leases	-81	-98
Dividend to UAL	-120	'
Other, net	-71	-67
Net cash used in financing activities	-1,096	-1,311
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-103	-837
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	3,214	4,765
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,111	3,928
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:	'	'
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt and capital leases	765	239
Transfer of UAL subsidiaries to United	186	'
Exchanges of certain convertible notes for common stock	156	'
Airport construction financing	$14	$35

Significant_Accounting_Policie

Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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. The estimated selling price of miles is adjusted by a fulfillment discount that considers a number of factors, including redemption patterns of various customer groups. This change in estimate was 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.
	During the third quarter of 2014, the Company refined its estimate of the number of miles that have been redeemed for award travel, but for which travel has not occurred, to a computation that uses actual miles open versus a historical average. Although this change is not expected to significantly impact the reported amount of passenger revenue recognized in 2014 or in any future years, the new estimate will likely result in more seasonality in the results between quarters. The Company expects that based on historical redemption and travel patterns, using the revised method will result in lower revenue from frequent flyer awards redeemed during the first quarter and higher revenue during the third quarter in future periods than historical amounts, with minimal differences during the second and fourth quarters.
	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.
	Recently Issued Accounting Standards. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and created a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This amendment prescribes that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendment supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. The amendments will become effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2017. The Company is evaluating the impact on its financial statements.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share	'
	NOTE 2 - EARNINGS PER SHARE
	The table below represents the computation of UAL’s basic and diluted earnings per share amounts and the number of securities that have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share amounts because they were antidilutive (in millions, except per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Basic earnings per share:
	Net income	$	924	$	379	$	1,104	$	431
	Less: Income allocable to participating securities		-1		-1		-2		-1
	Earnings available to common stockholders	$	923	$	378	$	1,102	$	430
	Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		370		357		370		343
	Earnings per share, basic	$	2.49	$	1.06	$	2.97	$	1.25
	Diluted earnings per share:
	Earnings available to common stockholders	$	923	$	378	$	1,102	$	430
	Effect of convertible notes		6		9		20		20
	Earnings available to common stockholders including the effect of dilutive securities	$	929	$	387	$	1,122	$	450
	Diluted shares outstanding:
	Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		370		357		370		343
	Effect of convertible notes		22		37		24		46
	Effect of employee stock options		—		1		1		1
	Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		392		395		395		390
	Earnings per share, diluted	$	2.37	$	0.98	$	2.84	$	1.15
	Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:
	Restricted stock and stock options		1		3		1		3
	Convertible notes		—		—		—		4
	During the second quarter of 2014, UAL used cash to purchase and retire $28 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.5% Convertible Notes due 2015 (the “4.5% Convertible Notes”) in market transactions. The corresponding equivalent amount of shares of UAL common stock are excluded from the determination of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 from the date the debt was purchased.
	In the first quarter of 2014, UAL issued approximately five million 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 holders of these notes. The newly issued shares of UAL common stock are included in the determination of basic weighted-average shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 from the date the shares were issued. The Company retired the 6% convertible senior notes acquired in the exchange. In October 2014, UAL notified holders of these notes of its intention to redeem the $58 million of notes outstanding with the redemption scheduled to occur in late November 2014. The holders of these notes have the right to convert their notes into shares of UAL common stock prior to redemption at a conversion rate of 115.1013 per $1,000 principal amount of notes. If all of the holders of these notes exercise their conversion right, UAL would issue approximately 6.7 million shares of UAL common stock upon conversion.
	Also on January 10, 2014, UAL called the 4.5% Senior Limited-Subordination Convertible Notes due 2021 (the “4.5% Notes”) that remained outstanding for redemption on February 10, 2014. 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. The newly issued shares of UAL common stock are included in the determination of basic weighted-average shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 from the date the shares were issued. See Note 9 for additional information related to exercises of rights under the 4.5% Notes.
	UAL’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program to acquire up to $1 billion of UAL’s common stock. UAL may repurchase shares through the open market, privately negotiated transactions, block trades, or accelerated share repurchase transactions from time to time in accordance with applicable securities laws. UAL will repurchase shares of common stock subject to prevailing market conditions, and may discontinue such repurchases at any time.
	On July 24, 2014, pursuant to the $1.0 billion share repurchase program, UAL entered into two separate agreements to repurchase an aggregate of $200 million of shares of UAL common stock through an accelerated share repurchase program (the “ASR Program”). UAL paid $200 million and received approximately 4.4 million shares. In addition to shares purchased under the ASR Program, UAL spent $20 million on open market repurchases of 0.4 million shares of UAL common stock in September 2014. See Part II, Item 2., “Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds” of this report for additional information.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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 June 30, 2014		$	545	$	36		$	8		$	589
	Changes in value			-66		-120			3			-183
	Amounts reclassified to earnings			-16		—			-2			-18
	Net change			-82		-120			1			-201
	Balance at September 30, 2014		$	463	$	-84		$	9		$	388
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	584	$	11		$	13		$	608
	Changes in value			-71		-99			4			-166
	Amounts reclassified to earnings			-50		4			-8			-54
	Net change			-121		-95			-4			-220
	Balance at September 30, 2014		$	463	$	-84		$	9		$	388
	UAL (a)		Pension and		Derivative			Investments			Total
			Other		Contracts			and Other
			Postretirement
			Liabilities
	Balance at June 30, 2013		$	-562	$	-20		$	13		$	-569
	Changes in value			41		44			-5			80
	Amounts reclassified to earnings			10		-14			—			-4
	Net change			51		30			-5			76
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	-511	$	10		$	8		$	-493
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	-1,042	$	-10		$	6		$	(1,046)
	Changes in value			483		16			2			501
	Amounts reclassified to earnings			48		4			—			52
	Net change			531		20			2			553
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	-511	$	10		$	8		$	-493
	Details about AOCI		Amount Reclassified from AOCI to										Affected Line Item in
	Components		Income										the Statements of
													Consolidated Operations
			Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2014		2013			2014			2013
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
	Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings (b)		$	—	$	(14	)	$	4		$	4	Aircraft fuel
	Amortization of pension and post-retirement items
	Amortization of unrecognized (gains) losses and prior service cost (credit) (b) (c)		$	-16	$	10		$	(50	)	$	48	Salaries and related costs
	Investments and other
	Available for sale securities-reclassifications of gains into earnings (b)		$	-2	$	—		$	(8	)	$	—	Miscellaneous, net
	(a) UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United and additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United in the nine months ended September 30, 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 information).

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income (including the reversals of deferred tax liabilities) during the periods in which those deferred tax assets will become deductible. The Company’s management assesses available positive and negative evidence regarding the realizability of its deferred tax assets and records a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized. To form a conclusion, management considers positive evidence in the form of reversing temporary differences, projections of future taxable income and tax planning strategies and negative evidence such as historical losses. Although the Company was not in a three-year cumulative loss position at the end of 2013, management determined that the modest level of cumulative pretax income supports the conclusion that the valuation allowance is still necessary. Management will continue to evaluate future financial performance to determine whether such performance is both sustained and significant enough to provide sufficient evidence to support reversal of the valuation allowance.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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
		September 30,				September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Service cost	$	24	$	29	$	5	$	14
	Interest cost		50		48		22		29
	Expected return on plan assets		-45		-41		-1		-1
	Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		3		8		-19		2
	Settlement gain		-1		-1		—		—
	Total	$	31	$	43	$	7	$	44
		Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
		Nine Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Service cost	$	73	$	94	$	14	$	42
	Interest cost		151		142		66		85
	Expected return on plan assets		-134		-121		-2		-2
	Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		8		41		-58		7
	Curtailment loss		—		2		—		—
	Settlement gain		-1		-2		—		—
	Total	$	97	$	156	$	20	$	132
	During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company contributed $160 million and $278 million, respectively, to its tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans.
	Settlement and Plan Remeasurement. During September 2014, the Company recognized a settlement gain of $1 million in earnings resulting from certain lump-sum payments under a separate defined benefit pension plan. Application of settlement accounting required the Company to remeasure the assets and liabilities of this plan in the third quarter of 2014. The Company remeasured the pension plan’s liabilities using an average weighted discount rate of 4.28% compared to the year-end 2013 discount rate of 5.09%. As a result of the settlement, the projected benefit obligation of the plan increased by $53 million and Other comprehensive gain decreased by an actuarial loss of $67 million. These items will also result in an increase of approximately $1 million in the expected net periodic benefit cost for the remainder of 2014. The Company recognizes the earnings impacts of its pension plans in Salaries and related costs in the statements of consolidated operations.
	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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Share-based compensation expense (a)	$	23	$	32	$	69	$	72
		September 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Unrecognized share-based compensation	$	62	$	44
	(a) Includes $3 million of expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Includes $(2) million and $9 million of (benefit) expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 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	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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):
		September 30, 2014										December 31, 2013
		Total				Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
		UAL
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,117			$	3,117	$	—	$	—	$	3,220	$	3,220	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Asset-backed securities		908				—		908		—		694		—		694		—
	Corporate debt		853				—		853		—		685		—		685		—
	Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”)		305				—		305		—		301		—		301		—
	Auction rate securities		26				—		—		26		105		—		—		105
	U.S. government and agency notes		41				—		41		—		38		—		38		—
	Other fixed income securities		264				—		264		—		78		—		78		—
	Fuel derivatives, net		-114				—		-114		—		104		—		104		—
	Enhanced equipment trust certificates (“EETC”)		28				—		—		28		61		—		—		61
	Foreign currency derivative asset (liability), net		3				—		3		—		1		—		1		—
	Restricted cash		316				316		—		—		395		395		—		—
		United
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,111			$	3,111	$	—	$	—	$	3,214	$	3,214	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Asset-backed securities		908				—		908		—		694		—		694		—
	Corporate debt		853				—		853		—		685		—		685		—
	CDARS		305				—		305		—		301		—		301		—
	Auction rate securities		26				—		—		26		105		—		—		105
	U.S. government and agency notes		41				—		41		—		38		—		38		—
	Other fixed income securities		264				—		264		—		78		—		78		—
	Fuel derivatives, net		-114				—		-114		—		104		—		104		—
	EETC		28				—		—		28		61		—		—		61
	Foreign currency derivative asset (liability), net		3				—		3		—		1		—		1		—
	Restricted cash		316				316		—		—		395		395		—		—
	Convertible debt derivative asset		498				—		—		498		480		—		—		480
	Convertible debt option liability		-297				—		—		-297		-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 September 30, 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 seven years, CDARS have maturities of less than one year, and auction rate securities have remaining maturities of approximately 24 to 32 years. U.S. government and other securities have maturities of less than one year to approximately four years. The EETC securities mature in 2019.
	The table below presents disclosures about the activity for “Level 3” financial assets and financial liabilities (in millions):
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		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 June 30	$	26			$	59	$	449	$	-263	$	115	$	62	$	395	$	-199
	Purchases, (sales), issuances and (settlements) (net)		—				-30		—		—		-9		-2		—		—
	Gains and (losses):
	Reported in earnings:
	Realized		—				1		—		—		1		—		—		—
	Unrealized		—				—		49		-34		—		—		-19		14
	Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)		—				-2		—		—		-3		-1		—		—
	Balance at September 30	$	26			$	28	$	498	$	-297	$	104	$	59	$	376	$	-185
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		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)		-84				-33		-62		34		-19		-4		—		—
	Gains and (losses):
	Reported in earnings:
	Realized		10				1		-5		5		3		—		—		—
Unrealized		—				—		85		-66		1		—		108		-57
Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)		-5				-1		—		—		3		—		—		—
Balance at September 30	$	26			$	28	$	498	$	-297	$	104	$	59	$	376	$	-185
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. Gains (losses) on these derivatives are recorded in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in United’s Statements of Consolidated Operations. These derivatives along with their gains (losses) are reported in United’s separate financial statements and are 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
	September 30, 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	$	11,328			$	12,386	$	—	$	8,290	$	4,096	$	11,539	$	12,695	$	—	$	8,829	$	3,866
United debt		11,232				12,122		—		8,026		4,096		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		Weighted Average
			September 30, 2014
Auction rate securities			$	26			Valuation Service / Broker Quotes		Broker quotes (a)		NA
EETC				28			Discounted Cash Flows		Structure credit risk (b)		4%
Convertible debt				498			Binomial Lattice Model		Expected volatility (c)		40%
derivative asset									Own credit risk (d)		5%
Convertible debt				(297	)		Binomial Lattice Model		Expected volatility (c)		40%
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 volatility estimate that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
(d) Represents the Company-specific risk adjustment 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	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.
Restricted cash
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	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Hedging Activities	'
	NOTE 7 - HEDGING ACTIVITIES
	Fuel Derivatives
	The Company routinely hedges a portion of its expected aircraft fuel requirements to protect against increases in the price of fuel. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had hedged approximately 39%, 24% and less than 1% of its projected fuel requirements (372 million gallons, 925 million gallons and 35 million gallons, respectively) for the remainder of 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively, with commonly used financial hedge instruments based on aircraft fuel or crude oil. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had fuel hedges expiring through March 2016. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for non-risk management 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. Instruments 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 cash flow hedge exceeds the change in the value of the Company’s expected future cash outlay to purchase 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 settles 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		September 30,				December 31,
				2014				2013
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	—			$	19
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			—				6
	Total assets			$	—			$	25
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Current liabilities: Other		$	66			$	—
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other			16				—
	Total liabilities			$	82			$	—
	Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	—			$	70
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			1				9
	Total assets			$	1			$	79
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Current liabilities: Other		$	27			$	—
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other			6				—
	Total liabilities			$	33			$	—
	Total derivatives
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	—			$	89
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			1				15
	Total assets			$	1			$	104
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Current liabilities: Other		$	93			$	—
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other			22				—
	Total liabilities			$	115			$	—
	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 September 30, 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):
		September 30,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Receivables	$	—			$	89
	Other assets: Other, net		—				15
	Current liabilities: Other		(93	)			—
	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		(21	)			—
	Hedge derivatives assets (liabilities), net	$	(114	)		$	104
	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 Gain (Loss)								Gain						Amount of Gain (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
		September 30,								September 30,						September 30,
		2014				2013				2014			2013			2014			2013
	Fuel contracts	$	(120	)		$	44			$	—		$	14		$	(8	)	$	1
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
		Amount of Gain (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)
	Nine Months Ended								Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,								September 30,						September 30,
	2014				2013				2014			2013			2014			2013
Fuel contracts	$	(99	)		$	16			$	(4	)	$	(4	)	$	(4	)	$	—
Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
Fuel contracts
	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	September 30,								September 30,
	2014				2013				2014			2013
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	$	(102	)		$	61			$	(103	)	$	30
in Nonoperating income
(expense): Miscellaneous, net

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	NOTE 8 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Commitments. As of September 30, 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		39
	Boeing 737 MAX 9		100
	Boeing 787-8/-9/-10		53
	Embraer 175		22
	(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 five Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, one Boeing 787-8 aircraft, one Boeing 787-9 aircraft and 11 Embraer 175 aircraft.
	The table below summarizes United’s commitments as of September 30, 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 three months of 2014	$	1.1
	2015		3.0
	2016		1.7
	2017		1.2
	2018		2.1
	After 2018		13.5
		$	22.6
	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 September 2014, United has arranged for EETC and bank debt financing for all 2014 aircraft deliveries and 20 of our 2015 aircraft deliveries, including 11 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, four Boeing 787-9 aircraft and five Embraer 175 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.
	Aircraft Operating Leases and Capacity Purchase Agreements
	In September 2014, United entered into an amendment to a contract with Shuttle America Corporation (“Shuttle America”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, for Shuttle America to operate 50 new Embraer 175 aircraft under the United Express brand and extend the term of 38 existing Embraer 170 aircraft operating under the United Express brand. Shuttle America will acquire fifty 76-seat Embraer 175 aircraft with deliveries from 2015 through 2017, although United has the right to acquire the aircraft under certain circumstances and lease the aircraft to Shuttle America. These 50 aircraft are in addition to United’s other 70 Embraer 175 aircraft that are currently being operated or will in the future be operated by different United Express carriers under capacity purchase agreements (“CPAs”). In a separate but related amendment with Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and its subsidiary, Republic Airline Inc. (“Republic”), United and Republic agreed to remove 31 Q400 aircraft from United Express service in 2015 and 2016.
	The table below summarizes the Company’s future payments through the end of the terms of our CPAs, excluding variable pass-through costs such as fuel and landing fees, among others. In addition, the table below summarizes the Company’s scheduled future minimum lease payments under aircraft operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms of more than one year and includes aircraft rent or ownership costs under CPAs, including estimated commitments under the Shuttle America contract for the Embraer 175 aircraft which will be delivered starting in 2015.
	(In millions)	Capacity		Aircraft
		Purchase		Operating
		Agreements		Leases
	Last three months of 2014	$	460	$	296
	2015		1,665		1,442
	2016		1,531		1,265
	2017		1,479		1,190
	2018		1,416		960
	After 2018		5,054		3,194
		$	11,605	$	8,347
	Facility and Other Operating Leases
	In September 2014, United entered into a 10-year lease extension through 2035 with the City and County of Denver to continue its use of the airport terminal space at Denver International Airport. This extension is expected to result in annual cost savings for the Company through the original lease term end date of 2025. The table below summarizes the Company’s scheduled future minimum lease payments under facility operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms of more than one year.
	(In millions)	Facility and Other
		Operating Leases
	Last three months of 2014	$	284
	2015		953
	2016		828
	2017		793
	2018		671
	After 2018		7,458
		$	10,987
	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 $280 million of these obligations are accounted for as capital leases. All of 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 September 30, 2014, the Company had $2.5 billion of floating rate debt and $168 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 $2.6 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. As of September 30, 2014, United had its entire capacity of $1.35 billion available under the revolving credit facility of the Company’s Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). See Note 9 of this report for additional information.
	Labor Negotiations. As of September 30, 2014, United had approximately 85,000 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 employee groups without joint collective bargaining agreements, including our technicians and flight attendants.

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt	'
	NOTE 9 - DEBT
	As of September 30, 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 September 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.
	4.5% Convertible Notes. During the second quarter of 2014, UAL used cash to purchase and retire $28 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.5% Convertible Notes in market transactions. As of September 30, 2014, the outstanding balance is $202 million.
	6% Convertible Senior Notes. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, UAL issued approximately five million 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 the holders of these notes. As of September 30, 2014, the outstanding balance is $58 million. In October 2014, UAL notified holders of these notes of its intention to redeem the remaining notes outstanding with the redemption scheduled to occur in late November 2014. The holders of these notes have the right to convert their notes into shares of UAL common stock prior to redemption at a conversion rate of 115.1013 per $1,000 principal amount of notes. If all of the holders of these notes exercise their conversion right, UAL would issue approximately 6.7 million shares of UAL common stock upon conversion.
	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. On January 10, 2014, UAL called the 4.5% Notes that remained outstanding for redemption on February 10, 2014. 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. In September 2014, United borrowed a $500 million term loan under the Credit Agreement. The loan is due September 2021 and bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.0% per annum. The $500 million term loan ranks pari passu with the $900 million term loan that United originally borrowed under the Credit Agreement, of which $887 million is outstanding. Also in September 2014, UAL amended its revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement increasing the capacity from $1.0 billion to $1.35 billion and establishing the maturity date for $1.315 billion in lender commitments as January 2, 2019.
	As of September 30, 2014, United had its entire capacity of $1.35 billion available under the revolving credit facility of the Company’s Credit Agreement. See Note 11 in the 2013 Annual Report for additional information on the terms of the Credit Agreement.
	6.75% Senior Secured Notes. In September 2014, United retired, at par, the entire $800 million principal balance of the 6.75% Senior Secured Notes.
	6% Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures. On October 10, 2014, United used cash to retire, at par, the entire $248 million principal balance of the 6% Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures and the 6% Convertible Preferred Securities, Term Income Deferrable Equity Securities (TIDES). United will account for this debt extinguishment as a component of Special charges in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net for approximately $65 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
	EETCs. In August 2014, 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 these pass-through trusts by the end of 2015. Certain details of the pass-through trusts are as follows (in millions, except stated interest rate):
	EETC Date	Class		Principal				Final	Stated		Total debt		Proceeds		Remaining
								expected	interest		recorded as of		received from		proceeds from
								distribution	rate		September 30,		issuance of		issuance of debt
								date			2014		debt in the		to be received
													nine months		in future
													ended		periods
													September 30,
													2014
	August 2014	A		$	823			September 2026		3.75%	$	—	$	—	$	823
	Aug-14	B			238			Sep-22		4.63%		—		—		238
	Apr-14	A			736			Apr-26		4.00%		427		427		309
	Apr-14	B			213			Apr-22		4.75%		123		123		90
	Aug-13	A			720			Aug-25		4.30%		720		567		—
	Aug-13	B			209			Aug-21		5.38%		209		165		—
				$	2,939						$	1,479	$	1,282	$	1,460
	The table below presents contractual principal payments at September 30, 2014 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):
		UAL				United
	Last three months of 2014	$	485			$	485
	2015		1,301				1,301
	2016		1,156				1,156
	2017		716				716
	2018		1,231				1,231
	After 2018		6,603				6,545
		$	11,492			$	11,434

Special_Charges

Special Charges	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Special Charges	'
	NOTE 10 - SPECIAL CHARGES
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, special charges consisted of the following (in millions):
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months  Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
	Operating:	2014		2013		2014		2013
	Integration-related costs	$	28	$	50	$	79	$	165
	Severance and benefits		6		—		58		14
	Labor agreement costs		—		127		—		127
	Costs associated with permanently grounding Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft		—		—		66		—
	Impairment of assets held for disposal		—		—		33		—
	Additional costs associated with the temporarily grounded Boeing 787 aircraft		—		—		—		18
	Losses on sale of assets and other special (gains) losses, net		9		34		28		31
	Special charges		43		211		264		355
	Nonoperating:
	Venezuela currency loss		—		—		21		—
	Income tax benefit		(3)		—		(4)		—
	Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes	$	40	$	211	$	281	$	355
	2014
	Integration-related costs include compensation costs related to systems integration, training, severance and relocation for employees.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $58 million of severance and benefits primarily related to reductions of management and front-line employees, including from Hopkins International Airport (“Cleveland”), as part of its cost savings initiatives. The Company reduced its average daily departures from Cleveland by over 60 percent during the second quarter of 2014. The Company is currently evaluating its options regarding its long-term contractual commitments at Cleveland. The capacity reductions at Cleveland may result in further special charges, which could be significant, related to our contractual commitments.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $66 million for the permanent grounding of 21 of the Company’s Embraer ERJ 135 regional aircraft under lease through 2018, which includes an accrual for remaining lease payments and an amount for maintenance return conditions. As a result of the current fuel prices, new Embraer 175 regional jet deliveries and impact of pilot shortages at regional carriers, the Company decided to permanently ground these 21 Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft. The Company continues to operate nine Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft and will assess the possibility of grounding those aircraft when the term of the current capacity purchase contract ends.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $33 million for charges related primarily to impairment of its flight equipment held for disposal associated with its Boeing 737-300 and 737-500 fleets.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $21 million of losses as part of Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net due to ongoing negotiations applicable to funds held in local Venezuelan currency. Approximately $100 million of the Company’s unrestricted cash balance was held as Venezuelan bolivars as of September 30, 2014.
	In the third quarter of 2014, United and the Association of Flight Attendants announced that United will offer certain of its flight attendants an enhanced early out program, which allows eligible participants a one-time opportunity to voluntarily separate from the Company and receive a severance payment, with a maximum value of $100,000 per participant. The Company is targeting approximately 2,100 participants, although the actual number of participants is unknown at this time, and may be more or fewer than 2,100. United also announced that it is recalling all flight attendants who are on voluntary and involuntary furlough.
	2013
	Integration-related costs included compensation costs related to systems integration and training, branding activities, new uniforms, write-off or acceleration of depreciation on systems and facilities that were no longer used or planned to be used for significantly shorter periods, relocation for employees and severance primarily associated with administrative headcount reductions.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $14 million associated with a voluntary program offered by United in which certain 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 October 2013, fleet service, passenger service and storekeeper employees represented by the International Association of Machinists ratified a joint collective bargaining agreement with the Company. The Company recorded a $127 million special charge for lump sum payments made in conjunction with the ratification. The lump sum payments were not in lieu of future pay increases. The Company completed substantially all cash payments in 2013.
	During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company adjusted its reserves for certain legal matters by $34 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company also recorded a $5 million gain related to a contract termination and $2 million in losses on the sale of assets.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $18 million associated with the temporary grounding of its Boeing 787 aircraft. The charges were comprised of aircraft depreciation expense and dedicated personnel costs that the Company incurred while the aircraft were grounded. The aircraft returned to service in May 2013.
	Accruals
	The accrual for severance and medical costs was $70 million as of September 30, 2014, compared to $29 million as of September 30, 2013. The severance-related accrual as of September 30, 2014 is expected to be paid through 2015.

Significant_Accounting_Policie1

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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. The estimated selling price of miles is adjusted by a fulfillment discount that considers a number of factors, including redemption patterns of various customer groups. This change in estimate was 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.
	During the third quarter of 2014, the Company refined its estimate of the number of miles that have been redeemed for award travel, but for which travel has not occurred, to a computation that uses actual miles open versus a historical average. Although this change is not expected to significantly impact the reported amount of passenger revenue recognized in 2014 or in any future years, the new estimate will likely result in more seasonality in the results between quarters. The Company expects that based on historical redemption and travel patterns, using the revised method will result in lower revenue from frequent flyer awards redeemed during the first quarter and higher revenue during the third quarter in future periods than historical amounts, with minimal differences during the second and fourth quarters.
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.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	'
	Recently Issued Accounting Standards. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and created a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This amendment prescribes that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendment supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. The amendments will become effective for the Company’s annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2017. The Company is evaluating the impact on its financial statements.

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Computation of Earnings Per Share	'
	The table below represents the computation of UAL’s basic and diluted earnings per share amounts and the number of securities that have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share amounts because they were antidilutive (in millions, except per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Basic earnings per share:
	Net income	$	924	$	379	$	1,104	$	431
	Less: Income allocable to participating securities		-1		-1		-2		-1
	Earnings available to common stockholders	$	923	$	378	$	1,102	$	430
	Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		370		357		370		343
	Earnings per share, basic	$	2.49	$	1.06	$	2.97	$	1.25
	Diluted earnings per share:
	Earnings available to common stockholders	$	923	$	378	$	1,102	$	430
	Effect of convertible notes		6		9		20		20
	Earnings available to common stockholders including the effect of dilutive securities	$	929	$	387	$	1,122	$	450
	Diluted shares outstanding:
	Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		370		357		370		343
	Effect of convertible notes		22		37		24		46
	Effect of employee stock options		—		1		1		1
	Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		392		395		395		390
	Earnings per share, diluted	$	2.37	$	0.98	$	2.84	$	1.15
	Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:
	Restricted stock and stock options		1		3		1		3
	Convertible notes		—		—		—		4

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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 June 30, 2014		$	545	$	36		$	8		$	589
	Changes in value			-66		-120			3			-183
	Amounts reclassified to earnings			-16		—			-2			-18
	Net change			-82		-120			1			-201
	Balance at September 30, 2014		$	463	$	-84		$	9		$	388
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	584	$	11		$	13		$	608
	Changes in value			-71		-99			4			-166
	Amounts reclassified to earnings			-50		4			-8			-54
	Net change			-121		-95			-4			-220
	Balance at September 30, 2014		$	463	$	-84		$	9		$	388
	UAL (a)		Pension and		Derivative			Investments			Total
			Other		Contracts			and Other
			Postretirement
			Liabilities
	Balance at June 30, 2013		$	-562	$	-20		$	13		$	-569
	Changes in value			41		44			-5			80
	Amounts reclassified to earnings			10		-14			—			-4
	Net change			51		30			-5			76
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	-511	$	10		$	8		$	-493
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	-1,042	$	-10		$	6		$	(1,046)
	Changes in value			483		16			2			501
	Amounts reclassified to earnings			48		4			—			52
	Net change			531		20			2			553
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	-511	$	10		$	8		$	-493
	Details about AOCI		Amount Reclassified from AOCI to										Affected Line Item in
	Components		Income										the Statements of
													Consolidated Operations
			Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2014		2013			2014			2013
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
	Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings (b)		$	—	$	(14	)	$	4		$	4	Aircraft fuel
	Amortization of pension and post-retirement items
	Amortization of unrecognized (gains) losses and prior service cost (credit) (b) (c)		$	-16	$	10		$	(50	)	$	48	Salaries and related costs
	Investments and other
	Available for sale securities-reclassifications of gains into earnings (b)		$	-2	$	—		$	(8	)	$	—	Miscellaneous, net
	(a) UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United and additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United in the nine months ended September 30, 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 information).

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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
		September 30,				September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Service cost	$	24	$	29	$	5	$	14
	Interest cost		50		48		22		29
	Expected return on plan assets		-45		-41		-1		-1
	Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		3		8		-19		2
	Settlement gain		-1		-1		—		—
	Total	$	31	$	43	$	7	$	44
		Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
		Nine Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Service cost	$	73	$	94	$	14	$	42
	Interest cost		151		142		66		85
	Expected return on plan assets		-134		-121		-2		-2
	Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		8		41		-58		7
	Curtailment loss		—		2		—		—
	Settlement gain		-1		-2		—		—
	Total	$	97	$	156	$	20	$	132
Share-Based Compensation Expense	'
	The table below presents information related to share-based compensation (in millions):
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
	Share-based compensation expense (a)	$	23	$	32	$	69	$	72
		September 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Unrecognized share-based compensation	$	62	$	44
	(a) Includes $3 million of expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Includes $(2) million and $9 million of (benefit) expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

Financial_Instruments_and_Fair1

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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):
		September 30, 2014										December 31, 2013
		Total				Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
		UAL
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,117			$	3,117	$	—	$	—	$	3,220	$	3,220	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Asset-backed securities		908				—		908		—		694		—		694		—
	Corporate debt		853				—		853		—		685		—		685		—
	Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”)		305				—		305		—		301		—		301		—
	Auction rate securities		26				—		—		26		105		—		—		105
	U.S. government and agency notes		41				—		41		—		38		—		38		—
	Other fixed income securities		264				—		264		—		78		—		78		—
	Fuel derivatives, net		-114				—		-114		—		104		—		104		—
	Enhanced equipment trust certificates (“EETC”)		28				—		—		28		61		—		—		61
	Foreign currency derivative asset (liability), net		3				—		3		—		1		—		1		—
	Restricted cash		316				316		—		—		395		395		—		—
		United
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,111			$	3,111	$	—	$	—	$	3,214	$	3,214	$	—	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Asset-backed securities		908				—		908		—		694		—		694		—
	Corporate debt		853				—		853		—		685		—		685		—
	CDARS		305				—		305		—		301		—		301		—
	Auction rate securities		26				—		—		26		105		—		—		105
	U.S. government and agency notes		41				—		41		—		38		—		38		—
	Other fixed income securities		264				—		264		—		78		—		78		—
	Fuel derivatives, net		-114				—		-114		—		104		—		104		—
	EETC		28				—		—		28		61		—		—		61
	Foreign currency derivative asset (liability), net		3				—		3		—		1		—		1		—
	Restricted cash		316				316		—		—		395		395		—		—
	Convertible debt derivative asset		498				—		—		498		480		—		—		480
	Convertible debt option liability		-297				—		—		-297		-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 September 30,
		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 June 30	$	26			$	59	$	449	$	-263	$	115	$	62	$	395	$	-199
	Purchases, (sales), issuances and (settlements) (net)		—				-30		—		—		-9		-2		—		—
	Gains and (losses):
	Reported in earnings:
	Realized		—				1		—		—		1		—		—		—
	Unrealized		—				—		49		-34		—		—		-19		14
	Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)		—				-2		—		—		-3		-1		—		—
	Balance at September 30	$	26			$	28	$	498	$	-297	$	104	$	59	$	376	$	-185
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		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)		-84				-33		-62		34		-19		-4		—		—
	Gains and (losses):
	Reported in earnings:
	Realized		10				1		-5		5		3		—		—		—
	Unrealized		—				—		85		-66		1		—		108		-57
	Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)		-5				-1		—		—		3		—		—		—
	Balance at September 30	$	26			$	28	$	498	$	-297	$	104	$	59	$	376	$	-185
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
		September 30, 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	$	11,328			$	12,386	$	—	$	8,290	$	4,096	$	11,539	$	12,695	$	—	$	8,829	$	3,866
	United debt		11,232				12,122		—		8,026		4,096		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	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.
	Restricted cash
	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		Weighted Average
				September 30, 2014
	Auction rate securities			$	26			Valuation Service / Broker Quotes		Broker quotes (a)		NA
	EETC				28			Discounted Cash Flows		Structure credit risk (b)		4%
	Convertible debt				498			Binomial Lattice Model		Expected volatility (c)		40%
	derivative asset									Own credit risk (d)		5%
	Convertible debt				(297	)		Binomial Lattice Model		Expected volatility (c)		40%
	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 volatility estimate that the Company has determined market participants would use when pricing the instruments.
	(d) Represents the Company-specific risk adjustment that the Company has determined market participants would use as a model input.

Hedging_Activities_Tables

Hedging Activities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Description of Derivative Instruments	'
	The Company’s derivatives were reported in its consolidated balance sheets as follows (in millions):
	Classification	Balance Sheet Location		September 30,				December 31,
				2014				2013
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	—			$	19
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			—				6
	Total assets			$	—			$	25
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Current liabilities: Other		$	66			$	—
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other			16				—
	Total liabilities			$	82			$	—
	Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	—			$	70
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			1				9
	Total assets			$	1			$	79
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Current liabilities: Other		$	27			$	—
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other			6				—
	Total liabilities			$	33			$	—
	Total derivatives
	Assets:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables		$	—			$	89
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net			1				15
	Total assets			$	1			$	104
	Liabilities:
	Fuel contracts due within one year	Current liabilities: Other		$	93			$	—
	Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other			22				—
	Total liabilities			$	115			$	—
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):
		September 30,				December 31,
		2014				2013
	Receivables	$	—			$	89
	Other assets: Other, net		—				15
	Current liabilities: Other		(93	)			—
	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		(21	)			—
	Hedge derivatives assets (liabilities), net	$	(114	)		$	104
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 Gain (Loss)								Gain						Amount of Gain (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
		September 30,								September 30,						September 30,
		2014				2013				2014			2013			2014			2013
	Fuel contracts	$	(120	)		$	44			$	—		$	14		$	(8	)	$	1
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
		Amount of Gain (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)
		Nine Months Ended								Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,						September 30,
		2014				2013				2014			2013			2014			2013
	Fuel contracts	$	(99	)		$	16			$	(4	)	$	(4	)	$	(4	)	$	—
Schedule of Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedges Gains (Losses)	'
	Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
	Fuel contracts
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2014				2013				2014			2013
	Amount of gain (loss) recognized	$	(102	)		$	61			$	(103	)	$	30
	in Nonoperating income
	(expense): Miscellaneous, net

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Firm Commitments to Purchase Aircraft	'
	As of September 30, 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		39
	Boeing 737 MAX 9		100
	Boeing 787-8/-9/-10		53
	Embraer 175		22
	(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 September 30, 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 three months of 2014	$	1.1
	2015		3.0
	2016		1.7
	2017		1.2
	2018		2.1
	After 2018		13.5
		$	22.6
Summary of Scheduled Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Aircraft Operating Leases and Capacity Purchase Agreements	'
	The table below summarizes the Company’s future payments through the end of the terms of our CPAs, excluding variable pass-through costs such as fuel and landing fees, among others. In addition, the table below summarizes the Company’s scheduled future minimum lease payments under aircraft operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms of more than one year and includes aircraft rent or ownership costs under CPAs, including estimated commitments under the Shuttle America contract for the Embraer 175 aircraft which will be delivered starting in 2015.
	(In millions)	Capacity		Aircraft
		Purchase		Operating
		Agreements		Leases
	Last three months of 2014	$	460	$	296
	2015		1,665		1,442
	2016		1,531		1,265
	2017		1,479		1,190
	2018		1,416		960
	After 2018		5,054		3,194
		$	11,605	$	8,347
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	'
	The table below summarizes the Company’s scheduled future minimum lease payments under facility operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms of more than one year.
	(In millions)	Facility and Other
		Operating Leases
	Last three months of 2014	$	284
	2015		953
	2016		828
	2017		793
	2018		671
	After 2018		7,458
		$	10,987

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Details of Pass Through Trusts	'
	Certain details of the pass-through trusts are as follows (in millions, except stated interest rate):
	EETC Date	Class		Principal				Final	Stated		Total debt		Proceeds		Remaining
								expected	interest		recorded as of		received from		proceeds from
								distribution	rate		September 30,		issuance of		issuance of debt
								date			2014		debt in the		to be received
													nine months		in future
													ended		periods
													September 30,
													2014
	August 2014	A		$	823			September 2026		3.75%	$	—	$	—	$	823
	Aug-14	B			238			Sep-22		4.63%		—		—		238
	Apr-14	A			736			Apr-26		4.00%		427		427		309
	Apr-14	B			213			Apr-22		4.75%		123		123		90
	Aug-13	A			720			Aug-25		4.30%		720		567		—
	Aug-13	B			209			Aug-21		5.38%		209		165		—
				$	2,939						$	1,479	$	1,282	$	1,460
Contractual Principal Payments	'
	The table below presents contractual principal payments at September 30, 2014 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):
		UAL				United
	Last three months of 2014	$	485			$	485
	2015		1,301				1,301
	2016		1,156				1,156
	2017		716				716
	2018		1,231				1,231
	After 2018		6,603				6,545
		$	11,492			$	11,434

Special_Charges_Tables

Special Charges (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Components of Special Charges	'
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, special charges consisted of the following (in millions):
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months  Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
	Operating:	2014		2013		2014		2013
	Integration-related costs	$	28	$	50	$	79	$	165
	Severance and benefits		6		—		58		14
	Labor agreement costs		—		127		—		127
	Costs associated with permanently grounding Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft		—		—		66		—
	Impairment of assets held for disposal		—		—		33		—
	Additional costs associated with the temporarily grounded Boeing 787 aircraft		—		—		—		18
	Losses on sale of assets and other special (gains) losses, net		9		34		28		31
	Special charges		43		211		264		355
	Nonoperating:
	Venezuela currency loss		—		—		21		—
	Income tax benefit		(3)		—		(4)		—
	Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes	$	40	$	211	$	281	$	355

Significant_Accounting_Policie2

Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	Frequent Flyer	United Airlines, Inc.	United Airlines, Inc.
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Estimated impact of change on consolidated revenue	$75	'	'
Receivable from related parties	'	$3	$232

Computation_of_Earnings_Per_Sh

Computation of Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Basic earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Net income	$924	$379	$1,104	$431
Less: Income allocable to participating securities	-1	-1	-2	-1
Earnings available to common stockholders	923	378	1,102	430
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	370	357	370	343
Earnings per share, basic	$2.49	$1.06	$2.97	$1.25
Diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'	'
Earnings available to common stockholders	923	378	1,102	430
Effect of convertible notes	6	9	20	20
Earnings available to common stockholders including the effect of dilutive securities	$929	$387	$1,122	$450
Diluted shares outstanding:	'	'	'	'
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	370	357	370	343
Effect of convertible notes	22	37	24	46
Effect of employee stock options	'	1	1	1
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	392	395	395	390
Earnings per share, diluted	$2.37	$0.98	$2.84	$1.15
Restricted Stock And Stock Options	'	'	'	'
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:	'	'	'	'
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts	1	3	1	3
Convertible Notes	'	'	'	'
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:	'	'	'	'
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts	'	'	'	4

Earnings_Per_Share_Additional_

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 24, 2014

Jul. 24, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Jan. 10, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Oct. 23, 2014

Oct. 23, 2014

Agreement

Accelerated Share Repurchase Program

Open Market Repurchases

Unsecured Debt

Unsecured Debt

4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015

4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015

6% Convertible Senior Notes

6% Convertible Senior Notes

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event

6% Convertible Senior Notes

6% Convertible Senior Notes

Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt purchased and retired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$28,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument convertible stated interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

4.50%

4.50%

4.50%

4.50%

6.00%

'

'

'

Debt instrument maturity year

'

'

'

'

'

'2021

'

'2015

'

'2029

'

'

'

Common stock issued in exchange for convertible notes

'

'

'

'

'

5

'

'

'

5

'

6.7

'

Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes exchanged

202,000,000

240,000,000

'

'

'

156,000,000

'

'

'

46,000,000

'

'

'

Outstanding balance of debt instrument

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

202,000,000

'

58,000,000

'

58,000,000

Note redemption date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2014-11

'

Debt instrument conversion rate

'

'

'

'

'

30.6419

'

'

'

'

'

115.1013

'

Share repurchase program authorized amount

'

'

1,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of accelerated shares repurchase programs

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Agreement to repurchase through an accelerated share repurchase program

'

'

200,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payments for repurchases of common stock

$220,000,000

'

'

$200,000,000

$20,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of shares repurchased

'

'

'

4.4

0.4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Components_of_Accumulated_Othe

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Beginning Balance	$589	[1]	($569)	[1]	$608	[1]	($1,046)	[1]
Changes in value	-183	[1]	80	[1]	-166	[1]	501	[1]
Amounts reclassified to earnings	-18	[1]	-4	[1]	-54	[1]	52	[1]
Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments	-201	[1]	76	[1]	-220	[1]	553	[1]
Ending Balance	388	[1]	-493	[1]	388	[1]	-493	[1]
Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities	'		'		'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Beginning Balance	545	[1]	-562	[1]	584	[1]	-1,042	[1]
Changes in value	-66	[1]	41	[1]	-71	[1]	483	[1]
Amounts reclassified to earnings	-16	[1]	10	[1]	-50	[1]	48	[1]
Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments	-82	[1]	51	[1]	-121	[1]	531	[1]
Ending Balance	463	[1]	-511	[1]	463	[1]	-511	[1]
Derivative Contracts	'		'		'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Beginning Balance	36	[1]	-20	[1]	11	[1]	-10	[1]
Changes in value	-120	[1]	44	[1]	-99	[1]	16	[1]
Amounts reclassified to earnings	'		-14	[1]	4	[1]	4	[1]
Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments	-120	[1]	30	[1]	-95	[1]	20	[1]
Ending Balance	-84	[1]	10	[1]	-84	[1]	10	[1]
Other	'		'		'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Beginning Balance	8	[1]	13	[1]	13	[1]	6	[1]
Changes in value	3	[1]	-5	[1]	4	[1]	2	[1]
Amounts reclassified to earnings	-2	[1]	'		-8	[1]	'
Comprehensive income (loss) adjustments	1	[1]	-5	[1]	-4	[1]	2	[1]
Ending Balance	$9	[1]	$8	[1]	$9	[1]	$8	[1]
[1]	UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for an additional $6 million of income tax benefit at United and additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

Details_about_Accumulated_Othe

Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 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]	$10	[1],[2]	($50)	[1],[2]	$48	[1],[2]
Miscellaneous, Net	'		'		'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Available for sale securities-reclassifications of gains into earnings	-2	[1]	'		-8	[1]	'
Fuel Oil Contract | Cash Flow Hedging | Aircraft Fuel	'		'		'		'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings	'		($14)	[1]	$4	[1]	$4	[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 information).

Components_of_Accumulated_Othe1

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (Parenthetical) (Detail) (United Airlines, Inc., USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
United Airlines, Inc.	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Income tax (expense) benefit	$6
Additional gains related to investments and other	$1

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'
Federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	'
Cumulative loss position at the end of 2013	'	'3 years

Components_of_Net_Periodic_Ben

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Pension Benefits	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	$24	$29	$73	$94
Interest cost	50	48	151	142
Expected return on plan assets	-45	-41	-134	-121
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)	3	8	8	41
Curtailment loss	'	'	'	2
Settlement gain	-1	-1	-1	-2
Total	31	43	97	156
Other Postretirement Benefits	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	5	14	14	42
Interest cost	22	29	66	85
Expected return on plan assets	-1	-1	-2	-2
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)	-19	2	-58	7
Total	$7	$44	$20	$132

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014
		Pension Benefits	Pension Benefits	Pension Benefits	Pension Benefits	Pension Benefits	Minimum	Maximum	Restricted Stock	RSUs	Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employer contribution to tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans	'	$160	'	$278	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Defined benefit plan, settlement gain	'	1	1	1	2	'	'	'	'	'	'
Defined benefit plan, discount rate	'	4.28%	'	4.28%	'	5.09%	'	'	'	'	'
Increase in projected benefit obligation of the plans	'	'	'	53	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Decrease in other comprehensive gain due to actuarial loss	'	'	'	-67	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Plan remeasurements increase against the expected net periodic benefit cost	'	1	'	1	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of days used to compute performance period average closing price of restricted stock units	'20 days	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-Based Compensation, award granted	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0.3	0.5	0.6
Share-Based Compensation, vesting period	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'3 years	'3 years	'3 years
Share-Based Compensation, vesting date	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	31-Dec-16
Percentage of pre-tax earnings paid for profit sharing plan	'	'	'	'	'	'	5.00%	20.00%	'	'	'
Pre-tax profit excluding special items, profit sharing expense and share-based compensation program expense profit sharing threshold	'	'	'	'	'	'	$10	'	'	'	'

ShareBased_Compensation_Expens

Share-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'
Share-based compensation expense	$23	[1]	$32	[1]	$69	[1]	$72	[1]	'
Unrecognized share-based compensation	$62		'		$62		'		$44
[1]	Includes $3 million of expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Includes $(2) million and $9 million of (benefit) expense recognized in merger integration-related costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

ShareBased_Compensation_Expens1

Share-Based Compensation Expense (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expense (benefit) recognized in integration-related costs	$28	$50	$79	$165
Special Charges	'	'	'	'
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expense (benefit) recognized in integration-related costs	'	($2)	$3	$9

Financial_Assets_and_Liabiliti

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $)	Sep. 30, 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	$3,117	$3,220
Restricted cash	316	395
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	3,111	3,214
Restricted cash	316	395
Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	908	694
Asset-backed Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	908	694
Corporate Debt	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	853	685
Corporate Debt | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	853	685
Certificates of Deposit Placed Through an Account Registry Service ("CDARS")	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	305	301
Certificates of Deposit Placed Through an Account Registry Service ("CDARS") | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	305	301
Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	26	105
Auction Rate Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	26	105
U.S. Government And Agency Notes	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	41	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	41	38
Other Fixed Income Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	264	78
Other Fixed Income Securities | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	264	78
Fuel Derivatives, Net	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	-114	104
Fuel Derivatives, Net | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	-114	104
EETC	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
EETC	28	61
EETC | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
EETC	28	61
Foreign Currency Derivatives, Net	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	3	1
Foreign Currency Derivatives, Net | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	3	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	498	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	-297	-270
Level 1	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	3,117	3,220
Restricted cash	316	395
Level 1 | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	3,111	3,214
Restricted cash	316	395
Level 2 | Asset-backed Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	908	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	908	694
Level 2 | Corporate Debt	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	853	685
Level 2 | Corporate Debt | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	853	685
Level 2 | Certificates of Deposit Placed Through an Account Registry Service ("CDARS")	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	305	301
Level 2 | Certificates of Deposit Placed Through an Account Registry Service ("CDARS") | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	305	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	41	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	41	38
Level 2 | Other Fixed Income Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	264	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	264	78
Level 2 | Fuel Derivatives, Net	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	-114	104
Level 2 | Fuel Derivatives, Net | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	-114	104
Level 2 | Foreign Currency Derivatives, Net	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives, net	3	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	3	1
Level 3 | Auction Rate Securities	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Short-term investments	26	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	26	105
Level 3 | EETC	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
EETC	28	61
Level 3 | EETC | United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
EETC	28	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	498	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	($297)	($270)

Financial_Instruments_and_Fair2

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail)

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Asset-backed Securities

Asset-backed Securities

Corporate Debt

Corporate Debt

Auction Rate Securities

Auction Rate Securities

Certificates of Deposit Placed Through an Account Registry Service ("CDARS")

U.S. Government and Other Securities

U.S. Government and Other Securities

EETC

6% convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2030

4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015

4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Fair Value [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities

'1 year

'40 years

'1 year

'7 years

'24 years

'32 years

'1 year

'1 year

'4 years

'

'

'

'

Available-for-sale securities maturity, year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2019

'

'

'

Debt instrument convertible stated interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.00%

4.50%

4.50%

Debt instrument maturity year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2030

'2015

'

Activity_for_Level_Three_Finan

Activity for "Level Three" Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

UAL And United

UAL And United

UAL And United

UAL And United

UAL And United

UAL And United

UAL And United

UAL And United

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

Auction Rate Securities

Auction Rate Securities

Auction Rate Securities

Auction Rate Securities

EETC

EETC

EETC

EETC

Convertible Debt Derivative Asset

Convertible Debt Derivative Asset

Convertible Debt Derivative Asset

Convertible Debt Derivative Asset

Convertible Debt Option Liability

Convertible Debt Option Liability

Convertible Debt Option Liability

Convertible Debt Option Liability

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Beginning Balance

$115

$105

$116

$26

$59

$62

$61

$63

$449

$395

$480

$268

'

'

'

'

Purchases, (sales), issuances and (settlements) (net)

-9

-84

-19

'

-30

-2

-33

-4

'

'

-62

'

'

'

'

'

Realized

1

10

3

'

1

'

1

'

'

'

-5

'

'

'

'

'

Unrealized

'

'

1

'

'

'

'

'

49

-19

85

108

'

'

'

'

Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)

-3

-5

3

'

-2

-1

-1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending Balance

104

26

104

26

28

59

28

59

498

376

498

376

'

'

'

'

Beginning Balance

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-263

-199

-270

-128

Purchases, (sales), issuances and (settlements) (net)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

34

'

Realized

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5

'

Unrealized

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-34

14

-66

-57

Reported in other comprehensive income (loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending Balance

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

($297)

($185)

($297)

($185)

Carrying_Values_and_Estimated_

Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$11,492	'
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	11,328	11,539
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	12,386	12,695
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure | Level 2	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	8,290	8,829
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure | Level 3	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	4,096	3,866
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	11,434	'
United Airlines, Inc. | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	11,232	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	12,122	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	8,026	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	$4,096	$3,866

Quantitative_Information_about

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Auction Rate Securities	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 Financial Instruments, asset	$26
Valuation Technique	'Valuation Service / Broker Quotes
Unobservable Input	'Broker quotes	[1]
EETC	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 Financial Instruments, asset	28
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	498
Valuation Technique	'Binomial Lattice Model
Convertible Debt Derivative Asset | Expected Volatility	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, weighted average percentage	40.00%
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	($297)
Valuation Technique	'Binomial Lattice Model
Convertible Debt Option Liability | Expected Volatility	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, weighted average percentage	40.00%
Convertible Debt Option Liability | Own Credit Risk	'
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]	'
Level 3 fair value measurements, weighted average percentage	5.00%
[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.

Hedging_Activities_Additional_

Hedging Activities - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 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	39.00%
Volume of fuel hedging	372,000,000
2015 Projected	'
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]	'
Percentage of projected fuel requirements	24.00%
Volume of fuel hedging	925,000,000
2016 Projected	'
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]	'
Percentage of projected fuel requirements	1.00%
Volume of fuel hedging	35,000,000

Description_of_Derivative_Inst

Description of Derivative Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	$1	$104
Fuel contracts, liabilities	115	'
Receivables	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	'	89
Other Assets	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	1	15
Current liabilities: Other	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, liabilities	93	'
Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, liabilities	22	'
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	'	25
Fuel contracts, liabilities	82	'
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging | Receivables	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	'	19
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging | Other Assets	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	'	6
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging | Current liabilities: Other	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, liabilities	66	'
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging | Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, liabilities	16	'
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	1	79
Fuel contracts, liabilities	33	'
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Receivables	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	'	70
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Other Assets	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, assets	1	9
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Current liabilities: Other	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, liabilities	27	'
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Fuel contracts, liabilities	$6	'

Offsetting_Assets_and_Liabilit

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	($114)	$104
Receivables	'	'
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	'	89
Other Assets	'	'
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	'	15
Current liabilities: Other	'	'
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	-93	'
Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other	'	'
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	($21)	'

Schedule_of_Gains_Losses_on_De

Schedule of Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments (Detail) (Designated as Hedging Instrument, Cash Flow Hedging, USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	($120)	$44	($99)	$16
Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Fuel Expense	'	14	-4	-4
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Nonoperating income (expense) (Ineffective Portion)	($8)	$1	($4)	'

Schedule_of_Derivative_Instrum

Schedule of Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedges Gains (Losses) (Detail) (Not Designated as Hedging Instrument, USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net	($102)	$61	($103)	$30

Firm_Commitments_to_Purchase_A

Firm Commitments to Purchase Aircraft (Detail) (United Airlines, Inc., Capital Addition Purchase Commitments)	Sep. 30, 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	39	[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	53	[1]
Embraer 175 aircraft	'
Commitments [Line Items]	'
Number of new aircraft committed to purchase	22	[1]
[1]	United also has options and purchase rights for additional aircraft.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Revolving Credit Facility	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Capacity available under the revolving credit facility	1,350,000,000
Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure	1,900,000,000
Operating leases obligations	1,600,000,000
Capital leases obligations	280,000,000
Floating Rate Debt	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument principal amount	2,500,000,000
Fixed Rate Debt	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument principal amount	168,000,000
Loans And Leases From Non U S Entities	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument principal amount	2,600,000,000
Aircraft Operating Leases	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Operating leases obligations	8,347,000,000
Facility and Other Operating Leases	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Operating leases obligations	10,987,000,000
Facility and Other Operating Leases | Denver International Airport	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Operating lease term	'10 years
Operating lease extended expiration year	'2035
Operating lease original expiration year	'2025
Minimum | Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument maturity year	'2015
Maximum	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument, remaining terms (years)	'12 years
Maximum | Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument maturity year	'2038
Maximum | Loans And Leases From Non U S Entities	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument, remaining terms (years)	'12 years
United Airlines, Inc.	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of employees	85,000
Percentage of employees represented by various U.S. labor organizations	80.00%
United Airlines, Inc. | Aircraft Operating Leases	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft operated	70
United Airlines, Inc. | Aircraft Operating Leases | Embraer 175 aircraft	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft right to acquire	50
United Airlines, Inc. | Aircraft Operating Leases | Embraer 175 aircraft | New Lease Arrangement	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft operated	50
United Airlines, Inc. | Aircraft Operating Leases | Embraer 175 aircraft | Extension Of Term	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft operated	38
United Airlines, Inc. | Aircraft Operating Leases | Q400 aircraft	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft operated	31
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc.	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft under financing arrangement expected to be delivered	20
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc. | Boeing 737-900ER aircraft	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered	5
Number of aircraft under financing arrangement expected to be delivered	11
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc. | Boeing 787-8	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered	1
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc. | Boeing 787-9	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered	1
Number of aircraft under financing arrangement expected to be delivered	4
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc. | Embraer 175 aircraft	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered	11
Number of aircraft under financing arrangement expected to be delivered	5
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc. | Minimum	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
New aircraft, scheduled delivery date	'2014
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc. | Maximum	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]	'
New aircraft, scheduled delivery date	'2025

Schedule_of_Acquisition_of_Air

Schedule of Acquisition of Aircrafts and Related Spare Engines (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'
Last three months of 2014	$1.10
2015	3
2016	1.7
2017	1.2
2018	2.1
After 2018	13.5
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Total	$22.60

Summary_of_Scheduled_Future_Mi

Summary of Scheduled Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Aircraft Operating Leases (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Capacity Purchase Agreements	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Last three months of 2014	$460
2015	1,665
2016	1,531
2017	1,479
2018	1,416
After 2018	5,054
Contractual Obligation, Total	11,605
Aircraft Operating Leases	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Last three months of 2014	296
2015	1,442
2016	1,265
2017	1,190
2018	960
After 2018	3,194
Operating leases obligations	$8,347

Summary_of_Scheduled_Future_Mi1

Summary of Scheduled Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Facility Operating Leases (Detail) (Facility and Other Operating Leases, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Facility and Other Operating Leases	'
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]	'
Last three months of 2014	$284
2015	953
2016	828
2017	793
2018	671
After 2018	7,458
Operating leases obligations	$10,987

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Jan. 10, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Jan. 17, 2014

Jan. 17, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Oct. 23, 2014

Oct. 23, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Mar. 27, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Oct. 10, 2014

Oct. 10, 2014

Unsecured Debt

Unsecured Debt

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015

4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015

8% notes due 2024

8% notes due 2024

6% Convertible Senior Notes

6% Convertible Senior Notes

6% Convertible Senior Notes

6% Convertible Senior Notes

6% convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2030

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Inc.

Before Amendment

After Amendment

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event

Term Loan Facility

Term Loan Facility

Term Loan Facility

6.75% senior secured notes due 2015

6% convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2030

6% convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2030

6% convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2030

LIBOR

Scenario Forecast

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt purchased and retired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$28

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$800

$65

$248

'

Outstanding balance of debt instrument

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

202

'

'

'

58

'

58

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument stated interest rate

'

'

4.50%

4.50%

'

'

'

4.50%

4.50%

'

8.00%

6.00%

'

'

'

6.00%

'

'

'

'

6.75%

'

'

6.00%

Common stock issued in exchange for convertible notes

'

'

5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5

'

6.7

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes exchanged

202

240

156

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

46

'

'

'

'

156

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument maturity year

'

'

'2021

'

'

'

'

'2015

'

'2024

'

'2029

'

'

'

'2030

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument conversion rate

'

'

30.6419

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

115.1013

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Note redemption date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2014-11

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate principal amount of debt redeemed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

400

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit Agreement

'

'

'

'

1,315

1,000

1,350

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

500

900

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument maturity date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2021-09

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.00%

'

'

'

'

Credit facility outstanding amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$887

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument, maturity date

'

'

'

'

2-Jan-19

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Details_of_Pass_Through_Trusts

Details of Pass Through Trusts (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	$1,177	$819
United Airlines, Inc.	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	1,177	819
United Airlines, Inc. | Class A Pass Through Certificates | August 2014	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal	823	'
Final expected distribution date	'2026-09	'
Stated interest rate	3.75%	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	823	'
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%	'
Total debt recorded	427	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	427	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	309	'
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	720	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	567	'
United Airlines, Inc. | Class B Pass Through Certificates | August 2014	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal	238	'
Final expected distribution date	'2022-09	'
Stated interest rate	4.63%	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	238	'
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%	'
Total debt recorded	123	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	123	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	90	'
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	209	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	165	'
United Airlines, Inc. | EETC	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal	2,939	'
Total debt recorded	1,479	'
Proceeds received from issuance of debt	1,282	'
Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods	$1,460	'

Contractual_Principal_Payments

Contractual Principal Payments (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Last three months of 2014	$485
2015	1,301
2016	1,156
2017	716
2018	1,231
After 2018	6,603
Long-term debt	11,492
United Airlines, Inc.	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Last three months of 2014	485
2015	1,301
2016	1,156
2017	716
2018	1,231
After 2018	6,545
Long-term debt	$11,434

Components_of_Special_Charges_

Components of Special Charges (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating:	'	'	'	'
Integration-related costs	$28	$50	$79	$165
Severance and benefits	6	'	58	14
Labor agreement costs	'	127	'	127
Impairment of assets held for disposal	'	'	33	'
Losses on sale of assets and other special (gains) losses, net	9	34	28	31
Special charges	43	211	264	355
Nonoperating:	'	'	'	'
Venezuela currency loss	'	'	21	'
Income tax benefit	-3	'	-4	'
Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes	40	211	281	355
Permanently grounded Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft	'	'	'	'
Operating:	'	'	'	'
Costs associated with aircraft	'	'	66	'
Temporarily grounded Boeing 787 aircraft	'	'	'	'
Operating:	'	'	'	'
Costs associated with aircraft	'	'	'	$18

Special_Charges_Additional_Inf

Special Charges - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014
				Attendant	Voluntary early out program	Voluntary early out program	International Association of Machinists	Venezuelan bolC-var fuerte	Permanently grounded Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft	Temporarily grounded Boeing 787 aircraft	Cleveland
					Attendant	Maximum			Aircraft		Weighted Average
Special Charges [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Severance and benefits	$6,000,000	'	$58,000,000	$14,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of flight reductions in average daily departures from Cleveland	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	60.00%
Costs associated with aircraft	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	66,000,000	18,000,000	'
Number of leased aircraft	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	21	'	'
Lease expiry year	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'2018	'	'
Number of aircraft in operation	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	9	'	'
Impairment of assets held for disposal	'	'	33,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Venezuela local currency loss	'	'	21,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unrestricted cash balance held as Venezuelan bolivars	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	100,000,000	'	'	'
Severance payment per participant	'	'	'	'	'	100,000	'	'	'	'	'
Number of targeting participants offering to retire early	'	'	'	'	2,100	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of flight attendants voluntarily on leave	'	'	'	1,300	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Labor agreement costs	'	127,000,000	'	127,000,000	'	'	127,000,000	'	'	'	'
Adjustment of reserves for certain legal matters	'	34,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gain related to contract termination	'	'	'	5,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loss on sale of asset	'	'	'	-2,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Accrual severance and medical costs	$70,000,000	$29,000,000	$70,000,000	$29,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Severance-related accrual expected payment date	'	'	'2015	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'