Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
United Air Lines Inc \| EETC
Fair Value [Line Items]
Investment securities, unrealized gains (losses)	$ 1
Continental Airlines Inc \| Auction Rate Securities
Fair Value [Line Items]
Auction rate securities, par value	$ 135
Debt instrument, interest rates reset interval	28 days
Continental Airlines Inc \| Auction Rate Securities \| Minimum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity period	10 years
Debt instrument, interest rates reset interval	7 days
Continental Airlines Inc \| Auction Rate Securities \| Maximum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rates reset interval	35 days

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant