Estimated Future Benefit Payments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2013	$ 312
2014	317
2015	321
2016	320
2017	317
Years 2018 - 2022	1,579
Pension Benefits \| United Air Lines Inc
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2013	11
2014	11
2015	9
2016	10
2017	11
Years 2018 - 2022	67
Pension Benefits \| Continental Airlines Inc
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2013	301
2014	306
2015	312
2016	310
2017	306
Years 2018 - 2022	1,512
Other Postretirement Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2013	136
2014	143
2015	150
2016	159
2017	166
Years 2018 - 2022	964
Other Postretirement Benefits \| United Air Lines Inc
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2013	126
2014	131
2015	137
2016	144
2017	150
Years 2018 - 2022	865
Other Postretirement Benefits \| Continental Airlines Inc
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2013	10
2014	12
2015	13
2016	15
2017	16
Years 2018 - 2022	99
Other Postretirement-Subsidy Receipts
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2013	7
2014	8
2015	9
2016	10
2017	11
Years 2018 - 2022	61
Other Postretirement-Subsidy Receipts \| United Air Lines Inc
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
2013	7
2014	8
2015	9
2016	10
2017	11
Years 2018 - 2022	$ 61

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Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the five fiscal years after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

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Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

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