Projected Fuel Requirements (Detail)	Jun. 30, 2012
Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	45.00%	[1]
Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	44.00%	[1]
Heating Oil Collars
Derivative [Line Items]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.41	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.74	[1]
Heating Oil Collars | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	20.00%	[1]
Heating Oil Collars | Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	20.00%	[1]
Brent Crude Oil Collars
Derivative [Line Items]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.74	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	1.93	[1]
Brent Crude Oil Collars | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	13.00%	[1]
Brent Crude Oil Collars | Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	13.00%	[1]
Diesel Fuel Collars
Derivative [Line Items]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.18	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.40	[1]
Diesel Fuel Collars | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	9.00%	[1]
Diesel Fuel Collars | Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	9.00%	[1]
Diesel Fuel Call Options
Derivative [Line Items]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.17	[1]
Diesel Fuel Call Options | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Aircraft Fuel Collars
Derivative [Line Items]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.00	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.35	[1]
Aircraft Fuel Collars | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Aircraft Fuel Collars | Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Aircraft Fuel Swaps | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.72	[1]
Aircraft Fuel Swaps | Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.72	[1]

[1] As of June 30, 2012, UAL had also hedged 15% of projected first half 2013 fuel consumption.