Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5,606	$ 6,246
Short-term investments	1,667	1,516
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	7,273	7,762
Restricted cash	42	40
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,908	1,358
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	645	615
Deferred income taxes	610	615
Prepaid expenses and other	783	607
Total current assets	11,261	10,997
Operating property and equipment: Owned -
Flight equipment	16,035	15,786
Other property and equipment	3,066	3,126
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	19,101	18,912
Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(4,191)	(4,005)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	14,910	14,907
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	418	382
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases -
Flight equipment	1,483	1,458
Other property and equipment	235	237
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,718	1,695
Less - Accumulated amortization	(602)	(565)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	1,116	1,130
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	16,444	16,419
Other assets:
Goodwill	4,523	4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	4,712	4,750
Restricted cash	529	529
Other, net	730	770
Other assets total	10,494	10,572
Total assets	38,199	37,988
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	4,433	3,114
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,607	2,405
Accounts payable	2,220	1,998
Accrued salaries and benefits	1,139	1,509
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,013	1,186
Current maturities of capital leases	127	125
Other	947	1,057
Total current liabilities	12,486	11,394
Long-term debt	10,408	10,496
Long-term obligations under capital leases	888	928
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,958	3,253
Postretirement benefit liability	2,415	2,407
Pension liability	1,857	1,862
Advanced purchase of miles	1,668	1,711
Deferred income taxes	1,596	1,603
Lease fair value adjustment, net	1,062	1,133
Other	1,351	1,395
Total non-current liabilities	12,907	13,364
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity (deficit):
Preferred stock
Common stock	3	3
Additional capital invested	7,130	7,114
Retained earnings (deficit)	(5,311)	(4,863)
Stock held in treasury, at cost	(32)	(31)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(280)	(417)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	1,510	1,806
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	38,199	37,988
United Airlines Inc [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,338	3,458
Short-term investments	338	275
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	3,676	3,733
Restricted cash	42	40
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,641	763
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	335	340
Deferred income taxes	340	348
Receivables from related parties	1,712	228
Prepaid expenses and other	524	447
Total current assets	8,270	5,899
Operating property and equipment: Owned -
Flight equipment	9,177	9,135
Other property and equipment	2,170	2,260
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	11,347	11,395
Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,419)	(3,359)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	7,928	8,036
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	60	57
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases -
Flight equipment	1,483	1,458
Other property and equipment	65	67
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,548	1,525
Less - Accumulated amortization	(581)	(548)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	967	977
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	8,955	9,070
Other assets:
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	2,269	2,283
Receivables from related parties	1,290
Restricted cash	393	393
Other, net	602	600
Other assets total	4,554	3,276
Total assets	21,779	18,245
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	3,411	1,652
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,607	1,484
Accounts payable	1,385	1,109
Accrued salaries and benefits	789	988
Current maturities of long-term debt	615	615
Current maturities of capital leases	124	122
Payables to related parties	105	104
Other	784	853
Total current liabilities	9,820	6,927
Long-term debt	4,987	5,130
Long-term obligations under capital leases	711	735
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,958	2,018
Postretirement benefit liability	2,119	2,115
Pension liability	85	92
Advanced purchase of miles	1,668	1,442
Deferred income taxes	699	707
Other	980	983
Total non-current liabilities	8,509	7,357
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity (deficit):
Common stock
Additional capital invested	3,435	3,432
Retained earnings (deficit)	(5,631)	(5,208)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(52)	(128)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	(2,248)	(1,904)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	21,779	18,245
Continental Airlines Inc [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,262	2,782
Short-term investments	1,329	1,241
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	3,591	4,023
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	267	595
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	310	275
Deferred income taxes	269	267
Prepaid expenses and other	266	165
Total current assets	4,703	5,325
Operating property and equipment: Owned -
Flight equipment	6,859	6,651
Other property and equipment	895	866
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	7,754	7,517
Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(772)	(646)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	6,982	6,871
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	358	324
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases -
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	170	170
Less - Accumulated amortization	(20)	(17)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	150	153
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	7,490	7,348
Other assets:
Goodwill	4,523	4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	2,445	2,469
Restricted cash	135	135
Other, net	360	364
Other assets total	7,463	7,491
Total assets	19,656	20,164
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	1,022	1,462
Frequent flyer deferred revenue		921
Accounts payable	841	894
Accrued salaries and benefits	350	521
Current maturities of long-term debt	398	571
Current maturities of capital leases	3	3
Payables to related parties	1,493	11
Other	237	279
Total current liabilities	4,344	4,662
Long-term debt	5,013	4,957
Long-term obligations under capital leases	177	193
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue		1,235
Postretirement benefit liability	296	292
Pension liability	1,772	1,770
Payables to related parties	1,290
Advanced purchase of miles		270
Deferred income taxes	821	820
Lease fair value adjustment, net	1,062	1,133
Other	490	507
Total non-current liabilities	5,731	6,027
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity (deficit):
Common stock
Additional capital invested	4,160	4,148
Retained earnings (deficit)	466	474
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(235)	(297)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	4,391	4,325
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ 19,656	$ 20,164