Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 325	$ 191
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities -
Depreciation and amortization	773	444
Amortization of debt and lease fair value adjustment	(119)	8
Special items, non-cash portion (Notes 1 and 10)	(48)	90
Increase in advance ticket sales	1,499	808
Increase (decrease) in frequent flyer deferred revenue and advanced purchase of miles	(89)	(60)
Increase in receivables	(387)	(324)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	202	123
Increase in other current assets	(251)	(83)
Increase (decrease) in other accrued liabilities	(224)	90
Net change in fuel hedge cash collateral	(29)	4
Other, net	106	65
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,758	1,356
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(350)	(124)
Aircraft purchase deposits paid, net	(70)	(42)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(20)	43
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	54	25
Purchases of short-term investments, net	(443)
Other, net		3
Net cash used in investing activities	(829)	(95)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	142	1,995
Payments of long-term debt	(1,477)	(1,274)
Principal payments under capital leases	(176)	(93)
Other, net	32	(25)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,479)	603
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period	(550)	1,864
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	8,069	3,042
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	7,519	4,906
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt	97
Reclassification of debt to advanced purchases of miles	(270)
Reclassification of debt discount to other assets	60
8% Contingent Senior Unsecured Notes, net of discount	49
Interest paid in kind on UAL 6% Senior Notes	18	17
Continental Airlines Inc [Member] | Successor [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	205
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities -
Depreciation and amortization	317
Amortization of debt and lease fair value adjustment	(127)
Special items, non-cash portion (Notes 1 and 10)	(20)
Increase in advance ticket sales	583
Increase (decrease) in frequent flyer deferred revenue and advanced purchase of miles	91
Increase in receivables	(185)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	(11)
Increase in other current assets	(133)
Increase (decrease) in other accrued liabilities	(34)
Other, net	30
Net cash provided by operating activities	716
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(127)
Aircraft purchase deposits paid, net	(67)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	52
Purchases of short-term investments, net	(291)
Other, net	1
Net cash used in investing activities	(432)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	142
Payments of long-term debt	(440)
Other, net	22
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(276)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period	8
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	3,398
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,406
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt	97
Reclassification of debt to advanced purchases of miles	(270)
Reclassification of debt discount to other assets	60
Continental Airlines Inc [Member] | Predecessor [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income		87
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities -
Depreciation and amortization		256
Special items, non-cash portion (Notes 1 and 10)		16
Increase in advance ticket sales		654
Increase (decrease) in frequent flyer deferred revenue and advanced purchase of miles		98
Increase in receivables		(180)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable		116
Increase in other current assets		(184)
Increase (decrease) in other accrued liabilities		118
Other, net		20
Net cash provided by operating activities		1,001
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures		(148)
Aircraft purchase deposits paid, net		(84)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		25
Purchases of short-term investments, net		(124)
Other, net		(3)
Net cash used in investing activities		(334)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		225
Payments of long-term debt		(411)
Other, net		20
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(166)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period		501
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period		2,546
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period		3,047
United Airlines Inc [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	121	207
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities -
Depreciation and amortization	456	444
Amortization of debt and lease fair value adjustment	8	8
Special items, non-cash portion (Notes 1 and 10)	(28)	90
Increase in advance ticket sales	915	808
Increase (decrease) in frequent flyer deferred revenue and advanced purchase of miles	(180)	(60)
Increase in receivables	(257)	(324)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	251	123
Increase in other current assets	(77)	(100)
Increase (decrease) in other accrued liabilities	(231)	88
Net change in fuel hedge cash collateral	(29)	4
Other, net	93	64
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,042	1,352
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(222)	(124)
Aircraft purchase deposits paid, net	(3)	(42)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(20)	43
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1	25
Purchases of short-term investments, net	(153)
Other, net		3
Net cash used in investing activities	(397)	(95)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		1,995
Payments of long-term debt	(1,037)	(1,273)
Principal payments under capital leases	(175)	(93)
Other, net	9	(22)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,203)	607
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period	(558)	1,864
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	4,665	3,036
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	4,107	4,900
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:
8% Contingent Senior Unsecured Notes, net of discount	49
Interest paid in kind on UAL 6% Senior Notes	18	17
Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:
Reclassification of debt to advanced purchases of miles	(270)
Reclassification of debt discount to other assets	$ 60