Debt (Schedule Of Debt Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less: current maturities	$ (1,186)	$ (2,411)
Long-term debt, net	10,496	11,434
United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	6,020	7,307
Less: unamortized debt (discount) premium	(275)	(281)
Less: current maturities	(615)	(1,546)
Long-term debt, net	5,130	5,480
Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	5,542	6,454
Less: unamortized debt (discount) premium	50	20
Less: current maturities	(571)	(865)
Long-term debt, net	4,957	5,536
Six Percent Unsecured Senior Convertible Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty Nine [Member] | UAL [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	345	345
Secured Debt [Member] | Fixed Interest Of Six Point Six Four Percent Two Twelve Weighted Average Rate Of Eight Point Four Two As Of December Thirty One Two Thousand Eleven Payable Through Two Thousand Twenty Two [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	2,044	2,469
Debt instrument stated interest rate, minimum	6.64%
Debt instrument stated interest rate, maximum	12.00%
Weighted average interest rate	8.42%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2022
Secured Debt [Member] | Amended Credit Facility, LIBOR Plus Two Point Zero Percent, Due Two Thousand Fourteen [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	1,219	1,237
Debt instrument stated interest rate	2.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2014
Secured Debt [Member] | Notes Payable, Floating Interest Rates Of LIBOR Plus Zero Point Two Percent To Eleven Point Three Percent, Payable Through Two Thousand Nineteen [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	985	1,165
Debt instrument stated interest rate, minimum	0.20%
Debt instrument stated interest rate, maximum	11.30%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2019
Secured Debt [Member] | Nine Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes And Twelve Percent Second Lien Due Two Thousand Thirteen [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	650	700
Debt instrument stated interest rate	9.875%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2013
Secured Debt [Member] | Twelve Percent Second Lien Due Two Thousand Thirteen [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument stated interest rate	12.00%
Secured Debt [Member] | Twelve Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twelve [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	172	173
Debt instrument stated interest rate	12.75%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2012
Secured Debt [Member] | Fixed Interest Of Four Point Seven Five Percent To Nine Point Two Five Weighted Average Of Seven Point Zero Nine As Of December Thirty One, Two Thousand Eleven, Through Twenty Twenty Two [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	3,093	3,290
Debt instrument stated interest rate, minimum	4.75%
Debt instrument stated interest rate, maximum	9.25%
Weighted average interest rate	7.09%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2022
Secured Debt [Member] | Notes Payable Floating Interest Rates Of LIBOR Plus Zero Point Three Five Percent to Five Percent Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	1,171	1,407
Debt instrument stated interest rate, minimum	0.35%
Debt instrument stated interest rate, maximum	5.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2021
Secured Debt [Member] | Six Point Seven Five Percent Senior Secured Notes Due Two Thousand Fifteen [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	800	800
Debt instrument stated interest rate	6.75%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2015
Secured Debt [Member] | Advance Purchase Of Mileage Credits [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross		273
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Four Point Five Percent Senior Limited Subordination Convertible Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	156	726
Debt instrument stated interest rate	4.50%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2021
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Six Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Thirty One [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	652	615
Debt instrument stated interest rate	6.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2031
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Eight Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty Six [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	125
Debt instrument stated interest rate	8.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2026
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Five Percent Senior Convertible Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross		150
Debt instrument stated interest rate	5.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2021
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Other [Member] | United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	17	72
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Other [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross		6
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Six Percent Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures Due Two Thousand Thirty [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	248	248
Debt instrument stated interest rate	6.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2030
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Four Point Five Percent Convertible Notes Due Two Thousand Fifteen [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	230	230
Debt instrument stated interest rate	4.50%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2015
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Eight Point Seven Five Percent Note Payable Due Two Thousand Eleven [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross		200
Debt instrument stated interest rate	8.75%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2011
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Six Percent Unsecured Senior Convertible Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty Nine [Member] | UAL [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument stated interest rate	6.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date	2029
Adjusted for Embedded Conversion Options [Member] | Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, net	$ 5,021	$ 5,609