Hedging Activities (Projected Fuel Requirements) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Derivative [Line Items]
Hedging percentage of fuel consumption	14.00%
Maximum [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	36.00%	[1]
Maximum [Member] | Heating Oil Collars [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	15.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.27	[1]
Maximum [Member] | Heating Oil Call Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	4.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.20	[1]
Maximum [Member] | Brent Crude Oil Collars [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	9.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.74	[1]
Maximum [Member] | Diesel Fuel Collars [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	6.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.18	[1]
Maximum [Member] | Diesel Fuel Call Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.17	[1]
Maximum [Member] | Aircraft Fuel Collars [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.00	[1]
Minimum [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	31.00%	[1]
Minimum [Member] | Heating Oil Collars [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	15.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.55	[1]
Minimum [Member] | Brent Crude Oil Collars [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	9.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	1.90	[1]
Minimum [Member] | Diesel Fuel Collars [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	6.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.39	[1]
Minimum [Member] | Aircraft Fuel Collars [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.35	[1]

[1] As of March 31, 2012, UAL had also hedged 14% of projected first quarter 2013 fuel consumption.