Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 7,519	$ 8,069
Short-term investments	1,060	611
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	8,579	8,680
Restricted cash	46	37
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,863	1,613
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	508	466
Deferred income taxes	622	591
Prepaid expenses and other	773	658
Total current assets	12,391	12,045
Operating property and equipment: Owned -
Flight equipment	15,618	15,181
Other property and equipment	2,993	2,890
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	18,611	18,071
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,421)	(2,858)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	15,190	15,213
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	304	230
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases -
Flight equipment	1,474	1,741
Other property and equipment	221	217
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,695	1,958
Less - accumulated amortization	(499)	(456)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	1,196	1,502
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	16,690	16,945
Other assets:
Goodwill	4,523	4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	4,815	4,917
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments	358	350
Investments	101	103
Other, net	816	715
Other assets total	10,613	10,608
Total assets	39,694	39,598
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	4,497	2,998
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,491	2,582
Accounts payable	1,999	1,805
Accrued salaries and benefits	1,229	1,470
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,389	2,411
Current maturities of capital leases	138	252
Other	1,019	1,127
Total current liabilities	12,762	12,645
Long-term debt	11,101	11,434
Long-term obligations under capital leases	970	1,036
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	3,355	3,491
Postretirement benefit liability	2,383	2,344
Pension liability	1,458	1,473
Advanced purchase of miles	1,545	1,159
Deferred income taxes	1,618	1,585
Lease fair value adjustment, net	1,246	1,371
Other	1,314	1,333
Total non-current liabilities	12,919	12,756
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	3	3
Additional capital invested	7,106	7,071
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(5,378)	(5,703)
Stock held in treasury, at cost	(31)	(31)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	242	387
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	1,942	1,727
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	39,694	39,598
Continental Airlines Inc [Member] | Successor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,406	3,398
Short-term investments	904	611
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	4,310	4,009
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	760	609
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	265	246
Receivables from related parties		3
Deferred income taxes	273	225
Prepaid expenses and other	262	185
Total current assets	5,870	5,277
Operating property and equipment: Owned -
Flight equipment	6,597	6,463
Other property and equipment	832	804
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	7,429	7,267
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	(389)	(141)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	7,040	7,126
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	250	178
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases -
Other property and equipment	168	168
Less - accumulated amortization	(10)	(3)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	158	165
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	7,448	7,469
Other assets:
Goodwill	4,523	4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	2,504	2,575
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments	160	160
Other, net	413	375
Other assets total	7,600	7,633
Total assets	20,918	20,379
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	2,046	1,463
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	951	879
Accounts payable	840	902
Accrued salaries and benefits	457	532
Current maturities of long-term debt	754	865
Current maturities of capital leases	3	3
Related party payables	42
Other	285	236
Total current liabilities	5,378	4,880
Long-term debt	5,219	5,536
Long-term obligations under capital leases	178	178
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	1,170	1,170
Postretirement benefit liability	262	253
Pension liability	1,357	1,372
Lease fair value adjustment, net	1,250	1,374
Advanced purchase of miles	270
Deferred income taxes	834	784
Other	500	522
Total non-current liabilities	5,643	5,475
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock
Additional capital invested	4,144	4,115
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	110	(95)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	246	290
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	4,500	4,310
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	20,918	20,379
United Airlines Inc [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	4,107	4,665
Short-term investments	155
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	4,262	4,665
Restricted cash	46	37
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,103	1,004
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	243	321
Receivables from related parties	193	135
Deferred income taxes	350	373
Prepaid expenses and other	513	366
Total current assets	6,710	6,901
Operating property and equipment: Owned -
Flight equipment	9,021	8,718
Other property and equipment	2,161	2,086
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	11,182	10,804
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,032)	(2,717)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	8,150	8,087
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	54	51
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases -
Flight equipment	1,474	1,741
Other property and equipment	52	49
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,526	1,790
Less - accumulated amortization	(489)	(453)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	1,037	1,337
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	9,241	9,475
Other assets:
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	2,313	2,343
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments	198	190
Investments	96	97
Other, net	602	622
Other assets total	3,209	3,252
Total assets	19,160	19,628
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	2,451	1,536
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	1,540	1,703
Accounts payable	1,161	907
Accrued salaries and benefits	772	938
Current maturities of long-term debt	635	1,546
Current maturities of capital leases	135	249
Related party payables	61	63
Other	751	950
Total current liabilities	7,506	7,892
Long-term debt	5,468	5,480
Long-term obligations under capital leases	792	858
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,184	2,321
Postretirement benefit liability	2,121	2,091
Pension liability	100	101
Advanced purchase of miles	1,275	1,159
Deferred income taxes	708	731
Other	956	972
Total non-current liabilities	7,344	7,375
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock
Additional capital invested	3,428	3,421
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	(5,368)	(5,489)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(10)	91
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	(1,950)	(1,977)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ 19,160	$ 19,628