Statements Of Consolidated Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 United Airlines Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 United Airlines Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 United Airlines Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Successor [Member] Continental Airlines Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor [Member] Continental Airlines Inc [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Predecessor [Member] Continental Airlines Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Predecessor [Member] Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Operating revenue:
Passenger-Mainline	$ 25,975	$ 16,019	$ 11,313	$ 14,153	$ 13,412	$ 11,313	$ 2,605	$ 11,816	$ 7,777	$ 9,024
Passenger-Regional	6,536	4,217	2,884	3,935	3,658	2,884	560	2,601	1,726	2,016
Total passenger revenue	32,511	20,236	14,197	18,088	17,070	14,197	3,165	14,417	9,503	11,040
Cargo	1,167	832	536	718	714	536	119	448	328	366
Special revenue item	107			88				19
Other operating revenue	3,325	2,257	1,602	2,261	1,994	1,626	279	1,291	957	1,217
Total revenues	37,110	23,325	16,335	21,155	19,778	16,359	3,563	16,175	10,788	12,623
Operating expense:
Aircraft fuel	12,375	6,687	4,204	7,080	5,700	4,204	986	5,294	2,872	3,401
Salaries and related costs	7,652	5,002	3,919	4,172	4,212	3,919	786	3,405	2,527	3,137
Regional capacity purchase	2,403	1,812	1,523	1,574	1,610	1,523	202	830	608	826
Landing fees and other rent	1,928	1,307	1,011	1,028	1,077	1,011	231	900	656	841
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs	1,744	1,115	965	1,160	980	965	135	595	399	597
Depreciation and amortization	1,547	1,079	917	921	903	917	177	626	380	494
Distribution expenses	1,435	912	670	748	756	670	156	688	474	537
Aircraft rent	1,009	500	346	323	326	349	174	686	689	934
Special charges	592	669	374	433	468	374	201	159	47	145
Other operating expenses	4,603	3,266	2,567	2,829	2,728	2,564	537	2,042	1,416	1,855
Total operating expenses	35,288	22,349	16,496	20,268	18,760	16,496	3,585	15,225	10,068	12,767
Operating income (loss)	1,822	976	(161)	887	1,018	(137)	(22)	950	720	(144)
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest expense	(949)	(798)	(577)	(595)	(695)	(577)	(86)	(342)	(288)	(367)
Interest capitalized	32	15	10	15	11	10	4	17	17	33
Interest income	20	15	19	10	11	19	3	10	6	12
Miscellaneous, net	(80)	45	41	(33)	42	41	2	(72)	(13)	27
Total other income (expense)	(977)	(723)	(507)	(603)	(631)	(507)	(77)	(387)	(278)	(295)
Income (loss) before income taxes	845	253	(668)	284	387	(644)	(99)	563	442	(439)
Income tax expense (benefit)	5		(17)	3	(12)	(16)	(4)	(6)	1	(157)
Net income (loss)	$ 840	$ 253	$ (651)	$ 281	$ 399	$ (628)	$ (95)	$ 569	$ 441	$ (282)
Earnings (loss) per share, basic	$ 2.54	$ 1.22	$ (4.32)						$ 3.16	$ (2.18)
Earnings (loss) per share, diluted	$ 2.26	$ 1.08	$ (4.32)						$ 2.81	$ (2.18)