Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 15, 2012
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	United Continental Holdings, Inc.
Trading Symbol	ual
Entity Central Index Key	0000100517
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
UAL [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		332,061,107
United Airlines Inc [Member]
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		205
Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,000