Projected Fuel Requirements (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2012
Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	44.00%	[1]
Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	43.00%	[1]
Heating Oil Collars
Derivative [Line Items]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.56	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.80	[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)	2.76	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	1.93	[1]
Brent Crude Oil Collars | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	14.00%	[1]
Brent Crude Oil Collars | Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	14.00%	[1]
Diesel Fuel Collars
Derivative [Line Items]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.28	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	2.45	[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 | Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Percentage of Expected Consumption	1.00%	[1]
Weighted Average Price (per gallon)	3.25	[1]

[1] As of September 30, 2012, UAL had also hedged 26% of projected first half 2013 fuel consumption.