Debt	3 Months Ended
Debt	Mar. 31, 2012
Debt	NOTE 9—DEBT As of March 31, 2012, a substantial portion of our assets are pledged as collateral for our debt. These assets principally consist of aircraft and the related spare parts and engines, route authorities and loyalty program intangible assets. As of March 31, 2012, UAL, United and Continental were in compliance with their respective debt covenants. *Continental EETCs.* In March 2012, Continental created two pass-through trusts, one of which issued $753 million aggregate principal amount of Class A pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 4.15% and the other of which issued $139 million aggregate principal amount of Class B pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 6.25%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class A and Class B pass-through certificates, which amounted to $892 million, have been and will be used to purchase equipment notes issued by Continental. Of the $892 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, Continental received $188 million as of March 31, 2012, in exchange for Continental's issuance of an equivalent principal amount of equipment notes, which has been recorded as debt. The remaining amount is expected to be received during the last nine months of this year as aircraft are delivered to Continental and Continental issues equipment notes to the trusts. Continental records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The proceeds have been and are expected to be used to fund the acquisition of new aircraft, and in the case of currently owned aircraft, for general corporate purposes. The Company evaluated whether the pass-through trusts formed are variable interest entities ("VIEs") required to be consolidated by the Company under applicable accounting guidance, and determined that the pass-through trusts are VIEs. The Company determined that it does not have a variable interest in the pass-through trusts. The Company does not invest in or obtain a financial interest in the pass-through trusts. Rather, Continental has an obligation to make interest and principal payments on its equipment notes held by the pass-through trusts. The Company was not intended to have any voting or non-voting equity interest in the pass-through trusts or to absorb variability from the pass-through trusts. Based on this analysis, the Company determined that it is not required to consolidate the pass-through trusts. *8% Contingent Senior Notes.* UAL is obligated under an indenture to issue to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") up to $500 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Notes in up to eight equal tranches of $62.5 million if certain financial triggering events occur (with each tranche issued no later than 45 days following the end of any applicable fiscal year). During 2011, a financial triggering event under the 8% Notes indenture occurred at both June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011 and, as a result, UAL issued two tranches of $62.5 million each of the 8% Notes in January 2012, which were recorded during 2011 at their fair value of $88 million as a component of integration costs. If a triggering event occurs as of June 30, 2012, UAL would be obligated to issue $62.5 million of the 8% Notes by February 14, 2013 and would record such obligation in the second quarter of 2012.
United Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt	NOTE 9—DEBT As of March 31, 2012, a substantial portion of our assets are pledged as collateral for our debt. These assets principally consist of aircraft and the related spare parts and engines, route authorities and loyalty program intangible assets. As of March 31, 2012, UAL, United and Continental were in compliance with their respective debt covenants. *Continental EETCs.* In March 2012, Continental created two pass-through trusts, one of which issued $753 million aggregate principal amount of Class A pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 4.15% and the other of which issued $139 million aggregate principal amount of Class B pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 6.25%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class A and Class B pass-through certificates, which amounted to $892 million, have been and will be used to purchase equipment notes issued by Continental. Of the $892 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, Continental received $188 million as of March 31, 2012, in exchange for Continental's issuance of an equivalent principal amount of equipment notes, which has been recorded as debt. The remaining amount is expected to be received during the last nine months of this year as aircraft are delivered to Continental and Continental issues equipment notes to the trusts. Continental records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The proceeds have been and are expected to be used to fund the acquisition of new aircraft, and in the case of currently owned aircraft, for general corporate purposes. The Company evaluated whether the pass-through trusts formed are variable interest entities ("VIEs") required to be consolidated by the Company under applicable accounting guidance, and determined that the pass-through trusts are VIEs. The Company determined that it does not have a variable interest in the pass-through trusts. The Company does not invest in or obtain a financial interest in the pass-through trusts. Rather, Continental has an obligation to make interest and principal payments on its equipment notes held by the pass-through trusts. The Company was not intended to have any voting or non-voting equity interest in the pass-through trusts or to absorb variability from the pass-through trusts. Based on this analysis, the Company determined that it is not required to consolidate the pass-through trusts. *8% Contingent Senior Notes.* UAL is obligated under an indenture to issue to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") up to $500 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Notes in up to eight equal tranches of $62.5 million if certain financial triggering events occur (with each tranche issued no later than 45 days following the end of any applicable fiscal year). During 2011, a financial triggering event under the 8% Notes indenture occurred at both June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011 and, as a result, UAL issued two tranches of $62.5 million each of the 8% Notes in January 2012, which were recorded during 2011 at their fair value of $88 million as a component of integration costs. If a triggering event occurs as of June 30, 2012, UAL would be obligated to issue $62.5 million of the 8% Notes by February 14, 2013 and would record such obligation in the second quarter of 2012.
Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Debt	NOTE 9—DEBT As of March 31, 2012, a substantial portion of our assets are pledged as collateral for our debt. These assets principally consist of aircraft and the related spare parts and engines, route authorities and loyalty program intangible assets. As of March 31, 2012, UAL, United and Continental were in compliance with their respective debt covenants. *Continental EETCs.* In March 2012, Continental created two pass-through trusts, one of which issued $753 million aggregate principal amount of Class A pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 4.15% and the other of which issued $139 million aggregate principal amount of Class B pass-through certificates with a stated interest rate of 6.25%. The proceeds of the issuance of the Class A and Class B pass-through certificates, which amounted to $892 million, have been and will be used to purchase equipment notes issued by Continental. Of the $892 million in proceeds raised by the pass-through trusts, Continental received $188 million as of March 31, 2012, in exchange for Continental's issuance of an equivalent principal amount of equipment notes, which has been recorded as debt. The remaining amount is expected to be received during the last nine months of this year as aircraft are delivered to Continental and Continental issues equipment notes to the trusts. Continental records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The proceeds have been and are expected to be used to fund the acquisition of new aircraft, and in the case of currently owned aircraft, for general corporate purposes. The Company evaluated whether the pass-through trusts formed are variable interest entities ("VIEs") required to be consolidated by the Company under applicable accounting guidance, and determined that the pass-through trusts are VIEs. The Company determined that it does not have a variable interest in the pass-through trusts. The Company does not invest in or obtain a financial interest in the pass-through trusts. Rather, Continental has an obligation to make interest and principal payments on its equipment notes held by the pass-through trusts. The Company was not intended to have any voting or non-voting equity interest in the pass-through trusts or to absorb variability from the pass-through trusts. Based on this analysis, the Company determined that it is not required to consolidate the pass-through trusts. *8% Contingent Senior Notes.* UAL is obligated under an indenture to issue to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") up to $500 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Notes in up to eight equal tranches of $62.5 million if certain financial triggering events occur (with each tranche issued no later than 45 days following the end of any applicable fiscal year). During 2011, a financial triggering event under the 8% Notes indenture occurred at both June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011 and, as a result, UAL issued two tranches of $62.5 million each of the 8% Notes in January 2012, which were recorded during 2011 at their fair value of $88 million as a component of integration costs. If a triggering event occurs as of June 30, 2012, UAL would be obligated to issue $62.5 million of the 8% Notes by February 14, 2013 and would record such obligation in the second quarter of 2012.