Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows (Parenthetical)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
UAL 8% Contingent Senior Notes
Debt instrument stated interest rate	8.00%	8.00%
UAL 6% Senior Convertible Notes
Debt instrument stated interest rate	6.00%	6.00%
United Air Lines Inc \| UAL 8% Contingent Senior Notes
Debt instrument stated interest rate	8.00%	8.00%
United Air Lines Inc \| UAL 6% Senior Convertible Notes
Debt instrument stated interest rate	6.00%	6.00%

The effective interest rate on the liability component of convertible debt instrument which may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlement.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6036836-161870

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 33

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration