Operating Segments (Adjusted for EBITDA) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 108,037,000		$ 46,468,000		$ 246,187,000		$ 116,582,000
Asset write-down charges	5,275,000		3,893,000		11,144,000		10,705,000
Acquisition and integration costs	4,068,000		4,369,000		28,924,000		13,186,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	254,862,000		195,408,000		759,288,000		572,518,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	4,988,000		3,870,000		14,546,000		11,595,000
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	141,287,000		142,016,000		432,221,000		446,641,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		1,000		44,629,000	[1]	36,487,000
Interest income	(192,000)		(236,000)		(554,000)		(861,000)
Other income (expense)	678,000		631,000		9,477,000		753,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	482,000		33,959,000		86,000		88,254,000
Stock-based compensation expense	13,470,000		10,178,000		44,620,000		29,885,000
Adjusted EBITDA	532,955,000	[2]	440,557,000	[2]	1,590,568,000	[2]	1,325,745,000	[2]
CCUSA [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	103,017,000		43,544,000		229,160,000		103,193,000
Asset write-down charges	4,932,000		3,022,000		10,673,000		9,633,000
Acquisition and integration costs	4,068,000		4,243,000		28,852,000		12,875,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	247,206,000		186,521,000		738,965,000		548,951,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	4,988,000		3,870,000		14,546,000		11,595,000
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	141,287,000		142,016,000		432,221,000		446,641,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		1,000		44,629,000		36,487,000
Interest income	(107,000)		(144,000)		(329,000)		(592,000)
Other income (expense)	(3,168,000)		(3,295,000)		(2,125,000)		(11,922,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(1,977,000)		32,538,000		(8,118,000)		82,455,000
Stock-based compensation expense	13,358,000		9,862,000		43,199,000		29,335,000
Adjusted EBITDA	513,604,000	[2]	422,178,000	[2]	1,531,673,000	[2]	1,268,651,000	[2]
CCAL [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	5,020,000		2,924,000		17,027,000		13,389,000
Asset write-down charges	343,000		871,000		471,000		1,072,000
Acquisition and integration costs	0		126,000		72,000		311,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	7,656,000		8,887,000		20,323,000		23,567,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0		0		0		0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	3,862,000		3,949,000		11,475,000		12,710,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		0		0		0
Interest income	(85,000)		(92,000)		(225,000)		(269,000)
Other income (expense)	(16,000)		(23,000)		127,000		(35,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	2,459,000		1,421,000		8,204,000		5,799,000
Stock-based compensation expense	112,000		316,000		1,421,000		550,000
Adjusted EBITDA	19,351,000	[2]	18,379,000	[2]	58,895,000	[2]	57,094,000	[2]
Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	0		0		0		0
Asset write-down charges	0		0		0		0
Acquisition and integration costs	0		0		0		0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	0		0		0		0
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments	0		0		0		0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	(3,862,000)		(3,949,000)		(11,475,000)		(12,710,000)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		0		0		0
Interest income	0		0		0		0
Other income (expense)	3,862,000		3,949,000		11,475,000		12,710,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0		0		0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	0		0		0		0
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]

[1] The losses predominantly relate to cash losses, including make whole payments and are inclusive of $7.7 million related to the write off of deferred financing costs and discounts.

[2] The above reconciliation excludes line items included in the Company's Adjusted EBITDA definition for which there is no activity for the periods shown.