Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transactions	NOTE 20—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS United and Continental United and Continental participate in extensive code sharing, frequent flyer reciprocity and other cooperative activities. The other cooperative activities are considered normal to the daily operations of both airlines. As a result of these other cooperative activities, Continental paid United $312 million and United paid Continental $147 million during the year ended December 31, 2011. These payments do not include interline billings, which are common among airlines for transportation-related services. The Company accounts for other related party transactions between United and Continental similar to the way it treats other similar business transactions with other airlines. Most of these transactions are routinely settled through the interline clearing house, which is customarily used in the monthly settlement of such items. The settlement of other cooperative non-transport type of transactions is typically performed on a quarterly basis, with direct settlement between United and Continental. There were no material intercompany receivables or payables between United and Continental as of December 31, 2011. The Company received a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2011, and has significant additional key integration initiatives planned for early 2012 including as described below. In 2011, the Company also announced that MileagePlus will be the loyalty program for the Company beginning in 2012. Continental's loyalty program is expected to end in the first quarter 2012 at which point United will automatically enroll OnePass members in MileagePlus and deposit into those MileagePlus accounts award miles equal to their OnePass award miles balance. At the time of the transition to a single loyalty program, the related frequent flyer deferred revenue and advance purchase of miles liabilities for Continental's OnePass program will be transferred to United. No gain or loss is expected from the transaction as the liabilities are expected to be transferred at their respective net book values. As part of the integration, the Company plans to move to a single passenger service system in early 2012. In conjunction with a single passenger service system, all tickets sold after implementation of the system will be using the United ticket stock. As a result, the air traffic liability of Continental will diminish as remaining tickets sold by Continental are used or refunded, and United advanced ticket sales liability will increase accordingly. Revenue will continue to be recorded by the carrier that is operating the flight. The Company also plans to merge Continental and United into one legal entity. Once this legal Merger occurs, the financial statements of United and Continental will be combined for all periods presented from the date of the Merger at their historical cost, and there will no longer be a requirement to separately report the historical financial statements of Continental. United During 2009, UAL contributed cash of $559 million to United consisting of the net proceeds that UAL generated from UAL equity and debt issuances in 2009. See Note 14 for additional information regarding Continental's debt that is convertible into shares of UAL common stock.
United Airlines Inc [Member]
Related Party Transactions	NOTE 20—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS United and Continental United and Continental participate in extensive code sharing, frequent flyer reciprocity and other cooperative activities. The other cooperative activities are considered normal to the daily operations of both airlines. As a result of these other cooperative activities, Continental paid United $312 million and United paid Continental $147 million during the year ended December 31, 2011. These payments do not include interline billings, which are common among airlines for transportation-related services. The Company accounts for other related party transactions between United and Continental similar to the way it treats other similar business transactions with other airlines. Most of these transactions are routinely settled through the interline clearing house, which is customarily used in the monthly settlement of such items. The settlement of other cooperative non-transport type of transactions is typically performed on a quarterly basis, with direct settlement between United and Continental. There were no material intercompany receivables or payables between United and Continental as of December 31, 2011. The Company received a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2011, and has significant additional key integration initiatives planned for early 2012 including as described below. In 2011, the Company also announced that MileagePlus will be the loyalty program for the Company beginning in 2012. Continental's loyalty program is expected to end in the first quarter 2012 at which point United will automatically enroll OnePass members in MileagePlus and deposit into those MileagePlus accounts award miles equal to their OnePass award miles balance. At the time of the transition to a single loyalty program, the related frequent flyer deferred revenue and advance purchase of miles liabilities for Continental's OnePass program will be transferred to United. No gain or loss is expected from the transaction as the liabilities are expected to be transferred at their respective net book values. As part of the integration, the Company plans to move to a single passenger service system in early 2012. In conjunction with a single passenger service system, all tickets sold after implementation of the system will be using the United ticket stock. As a result, the air traffic liability of Continental will diminish as remaining tickets sold by Continental are used or refunded, and United advanced ticket sales liability will increase accordingly. Revenue will continue to be recorded by the carrier that is operating the flight. The Company also plans to merge Continental and United into one legal entity. Once this legal Merger occurs, the financial statements of United and Continental will be combined for all periods presented from the date of the Merger at their historical cost, and there will no longer be a requirement to separately report the historical financial statements of Continental. United During 2009, UAL contributed cash of $559 million to United consisting of the net proceeds that UAL generated from UAL equity and debt issuances in 2009. See Note 14 for additional information regarding Continental's debt that is convertible into shares of UAL common stock.
Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Related Party Transactions	NOTE 20—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS United and Continental United and Continental participate in extensive code sharing, frequent flyer reciprocity and other cooperative activities. The other cooperative activities are considered normal to the daily operations of both airlines. As a result of these other cooperative activities, Continental paid United $312 million and United paid Continental $147 million during the year ended December 31, 2011. These payments do not include interline billings, which are common among airlines for transportation-related services. The Company accounts for other related party transactions between United and Continental similar to the way it treats other similar business transactions with other airlines. Most of these transactions are routinely settled through the interline clearing house, which is customarily used in the monthly settlement of such items. The settlement of other cooperative non-transport type of transactions is typically performed on a quarterly basis, with direct settlement between United and Continental. There were no material intercompany receivables or payables between United and Continental as of December 31, 2011. The Company received a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2011, and has significant additional key integration initiatives planned for early 2012 including as described below. In 2011, the Company also announced that MileagePlus will be the loyalty program for the Company beginning in 2012. Continental's loyalty program is expected to end in the first quarter 2012 at which point United will automatically enroll OnePass members in MileagePlus and deposit into those MileagePlus accounts award miles equal to their OnePass award miles balance. At the time of the transition to a single loyalty program, the related frequent flyer deferred revenue and advance purchase of miles liabilities for Continental's OnePass program will be transferred to United. No gain or loss is expected from the transaction as the liabilities are expected to be transferred at their respective net book values. As part of the integration, the Company plans to move to a single passenger service system in early 2012. In conjunction with a single passenger service system, all tickets sold after implementation of the system will be using the United ticket stock. As a result, the air traffic liability of Continental will diminish as remaining tickets sold by Continental are used or refunded, and United advanced ticket sales liability will increase accordingly. Revenue will continue to be recorded by the carrier that is operating the flight. The Company also plans to merge Continental and United into one legal entity. Once this legal Merger occurs, the financial statements of United and Continental will be combined for all periods presented from the date of the Merger at their historical cost, and there will no longer be a requirement to separately report the historical financial statements of Continental. United During 2009, UAL contributed cash of $559 million to United consisting of the net proceeds that UAL generated from UAL equity and debt issuances in 2009. See Note 14 for additional information regarding Continental's debt that is convertible into shares of UAL common stock.

The entire disclosure for related party transactions, including the nature of the relationship(s), a description of the transactions, the amount of the transactions, the effects of any change in the method of establishing the terms of the transaction from the previous period, stated interest rate, expiration date, terms and manner of settlement per the agreement with the related party, and amounts due to or from related parties. If the entity and one or more other entities are under common ownership or management control and this control affects the operating results or financial position, disclosure includes the nature of the control relationship even if there are no transactions between the entities. Disclosure may also include the aggregate amount of current and deferred tax expense for each statement of earnings presented where the entity is a member of a group that files a consolidated tax return, the amount of any tax related balances due to or from affiliates as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, the principal provisions of the method by which the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense is allocated to the members of the group and the nature and effect of any changes in that method. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.

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+ Details