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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) Employee in Thousands | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Employee | Aug. 31, 2016 | Apr. 30, 2016 Contract | Mar. 31, 2016 | Jan. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Employee Contract Option | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument principal amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 248,000,000
Number of call options to purchase regional jet aircraft | Option |  |  |  |  |  | 223 |
Int'1 Brotherhood of Teamsters |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service contract extended year | 2022 |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract period | 6 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Air Line Pilots Association International |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service contract extended year |  |  |  |  | Jan. 31, 2019 |  |
Professional Airline Flight Control Association |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service contract extended year |  |  |  | 2021 |  |  |
Int'1 Association of Machinists |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service contract extended year |  |  | 2021 |  |  | 2021 |
Number of new contracts extended | Contract |  |  | 7 |  |  | 7 |
United And The Association Of Flight Attendants |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract period |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |
Aircraft Mortgage Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure | $ 168,000,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 168,000,000 |
Floating Rate Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument principal amount | 2,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 2,600,000,000 |
Fixed Rate Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument principal amount | 90,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 90,000,000 |
Loans And Leases From Non U S Entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument principal amount | 2,600,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 2,600,000,000 |
Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure | 1,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 1,900,000,000 |
Operating leases obligations | 1,400,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 1,400,000,000 |
Capital leases obligations | 400,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 400,000,000 |
Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds | Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure | 234,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 234,000,000 |
Contingent liabilities based on participation | 1,500,000,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 1,500,000,000 |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, remaining terms (years) |  |  |  |  |  | 12 years |
Maximum | Loans And Leases From Non U S Entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, remaining terms (years) |  |  |  |  |  | 12 years |
Maximum | Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2038 |
Maximum | Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds | Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2049 |
Minimum | Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2017 |
Minimum | Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds | Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2017 |
United Airlines, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowed principal amount | $ 369,000,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 369,000,000 |
Number of employees | Employee | 88 |  |  |  |  | 88 |
Percentage of employees represented by various U.S. labor organizations |  |  |  |  |  | 80.00% |
United Airlines, Inc. | EETC |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowed principal amount | $ 1,973,000,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 1,973,000,000 |
Debt instrument principal amount | $ 708,000,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 708,000,000 |
United Airlines, Inc. | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2028 |
United Airlines, Inc. | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  |  |  |  | 2026 |
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc. | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New aircraft, scheduled delivery date |  |  |  |  |  | 2027 |
Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | United Airlines, Inc. | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New aircraft, scheduled delivery date |  |  |  |  |  | 2017 |

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