Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5,129	$ 6,246
Short-term investments	1,551	1,516
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	6,680	7,762
Restricted cash	79	40
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,862	1,358
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	675	615
Deferred income taxes	641	615
Prepaid expenses and other	837	607
Total current assets	10,774	10,997
Operating property and equipment: Owned-
Flight equipment	16,753	15,786
Other property and equipment	3,151	3,126
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	19,904	18,912
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(4,750)	(4,005)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	15,154	14,907
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	613	382
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases-
Flight equipment	1,484	1,458
Other property and equipment	235	237
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,719	1,695
Less - Accumulated amortization	(676)	(565)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	1,043	1,130
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	16,810	16,419
Other assets:
Goodwill	4,523	4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	4,650	4,750
Restricted cash	392	529
Other, net	756	770
Other assets total	10,321	10,572
Total assets	37,905	37,988
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	3,849	3,114
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,405	2,405
Accounts payable	2,188	1,998
Accrued salaries and benefits	1,328	1,509
Current maturities of long-term debt	1,704	1,186
Current maturities of capital leases	120	125
Other	1,463	1,057
Total current liabilities	13,057	11,394
Long-term debt	9,592	10,496
Long-term obligations under capital leases	828	928
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,839	3,253
Postretirement benefit liability	2,461	2,407
Pension liability	1,788	1,862
Advanced purchase of miles	1,581	1,711
Deferred income taxes	1,649	1,603
Lease fair value adjustment, net	927	1,133
Other	1,356	1,395
Total non-current liabilities	12,601	13,364
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity (deficit):
Preferred stock
Common stock	3	3
Additional capital invested	7,140	7,114
Retained earnings (deficit)	(4,965)	(4,863)
Stock held in treasury, at cost	(32)	(31)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(319)	(417)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	1,827	1,806
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	37,905	37,988
United Air Lines Inc
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,005	3,458
Short-term investments	346	275
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	3,351	3,733
Restricted cash	79	40
Receivables from related parties (Note 11)	2,708	228
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	1,686	763
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	379	340
Deferred income taxes	316	348
Prepaid expenses and other	633	447
Total current assets	9,152	5,899
Operating property and equipment: Owned-
Flight equipment	9,354	9,135
Other property and equipment	2,197	2,260
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	11,551	11,395
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,740)	(3,359)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	7,811	8,036
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	183	57
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases-
Flight equipment	1,484	1,458
Other property and equipment	65	67
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross	1,549	1,525
Less - Accumulated amortization	(649)	(548)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	900	977
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	8,894	9,070
Other assets:
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	2,241	2,283
Receivables from related parties (Note 11)	448
Restricted cash	275	393
Other, net	595	600
Other assets total	3,559	3,276
Total assets	21,605	18,245
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	3,776	1,652
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,405	1,484
Accounts payable	1,426	1,109
Accrued salaries and benefits	760	988
Current maturities of long-term debt	978	615
Current maturities of capital leases	116	122
Payables to related parties	105	104
Other	1,270	853
Total current liabilities	10,836	6,927
Long-term debt	4,191	5,130
Long-term obligations under capital leases	652	735
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue	2,839	2,018
Postretirement benefit liability	2,156	2,115
Pension liability	84	92
Advanced purchase of miles	1,581	1,442
Deferred income taxes	692	707
Other	1,044	983
Total non-current liabilities	8,396	7,357
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity (deficit):
Common stock
Additional capital invested	3,442	3,432
Retained earnings (deficit)	(5,829)	(5,208)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(83)	(128)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	(2,470)	(1,904)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	21,605	18,245
Continental Airlines Inc
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,119	2,782
Short-term investments	1,205	1,241
Total unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	3,324	4,023
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	176	595
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance	296	275
Deferred income taxes	331	267
Prepaid expenses and other	193	165
Total current assets	4,320	5,325
Operating property and equipment: Owned-
Flight equipment	7,399	6,651
Other property and equipment	954	866
Operating property and equipment - owned, gross	8,353	7,517
Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,009)	(646)
Operating property and equipment - owned, net	7,344	6,871
Purchase deposits for flight equipment	430	324
Operating property and equipment: Capital leases-
Other property and equipment	170	170
Less - Accumulated amortization	(27)	(17)
Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net	143	153
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	7,917	7,348
Other assets:
Goodwill	4,523	4,523
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization	2,411	2,469
Restricted cash	116	135
Other, net	364	364
Other assets total	7,414	7,491
Total assets	19,651	20,164
Current liabilities:
Advance ticket sales	73	1,462
Frequent flyer deferred revenue		921
Accounts payable	767	894
Accrued salaries and benefits	568	521
Current maturities of long-term debt	726	571
Current maturities of capital leases	4	3
Payables to related parties	2,486	11
Other	249	279
Total current liabilities	4,873	4,662
Long-term debt	4,998	4,957
Long-term obligations under capital leases	176	193
Other liabilities and deferred credits:
Frequent flyer deferred revenue		1,235
Postretirement benefit liability	304	292
Pension liability	1,704	1,770
Advanced purchase of miles		270
Payables to related parties (Note 11)	448
Deferred income taxes	887	820
Lease fair value adjustment, net	927	1,133
Other	404	507
Total non-current liabilities	4,674	6,027
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity (deficit):
Common stock
Additional capital invested	4,165	4,148
Retained earnings (deficit)	1,008	474
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(243)	(297)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	4,930	4,325
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ 19,651	$ 20,164