Statements Of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 United Airlines Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 United Airlines Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 United Airlines Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Continental Airlines Inc [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Continental Airlines Inc [Member] Successor [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Continental Airlines Inc [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Continental Airlines Inc [Member] Predecessor [Member]
Net income (loss)	$ 840	$ 253	$ (651)	$ 281	$ 399	$ (628)	$ (95)	$ 569	$ 441	$ (282)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net:
Net change related to employee benefit plans	(464)	95	(73)	29	(148)	(73)	243	(493)	82	305
Net change in gains (losses) on financial instruments	(340)	257	15	(248)	204	15	53	(94)	11	424
Tax expense on other comprehensive income (loss)							(6)			(158)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net	(804)	352	(58)	(219)	56	(58)	290	(587)	93	571
Total comprehensive income (loss), net	$ 36	$ 605	$ (709)	$ 62	$ 455	$ (686)	$ 195	$ (18)	$ 534	$ 289

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the reporting entity. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, but excludes any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

The increase (decrease) in accumulated comprehensive income during the period related to pension and other postretirement benefit plans, after tax. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Net of tax effect change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges after taxes. A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to variability in the cash flows of a recognized asset or liability or a forecasted transaction that is attributable to a particular risk. The change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase or decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

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This element represents Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, Net of Tax, for the period. Includes deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

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Tax effect of the change in accumulated other comprehensive income, that is, the tax effect on items included in other comprehensive income during the period that is attributable to the parent entity. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

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