Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 15, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	UAL
Entity Registrant Name	United Continental Holdings, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000100517
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		332,426,868
United Air Lines Inc
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	United Air Lines, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000101001
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		205
Continental Airlines Inc
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Continental Airlines, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000319687
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,000