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Leases and Capacity Purchase Agreements - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Aircraft | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Aircraft | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Regional capacity purchase expense | $ |  | $ 2,197 | $ 2,290 | $ 2,344
Capacity Purchase Agreements | Scenario Forecast |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Scheduled block hours increase (decrease) percentage | 10.00% |  |  |
Change in cash obligation | $ | $ 147 |  |  |
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating lease expiration date, in years |  | 2024 |  |
Lease extension term |  | 7 years |  |
Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating leases obligations | $ |  | $ 6,508 |  |
Facility and Other Operating Leases |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating lease extended expiration year |  | 2041 |  |
Operating leases obligations | $ |  | $ 12,047 |  |
Minimum | Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 5 years |  |
Operating lease expiration date, in years |  | 2017 |  |
Maximum | Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 26 years |  |
Operating lease expiration date, in years |  | 2028 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Nonaircraft rent expense | $ |  | $ 1,200 | 1,300 | 1,400
Regional capacity purchase expense | $ |  | $ 2,197 | 2,290 | 2,344
United Airlines, Inc. | Capacity Purchase Agreements |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft operated |  | 494 |  |
Airline capacity purchase arrangements, expiration year |  | 2029 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Revaluation of Liabilities |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Net accretion amounts | $ |  | $ 82 | 107 | 160
United Airlines, Inc. | Regional Aircraft |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Regional capacity purchase expense | $ |  | 439 | $ 461 | $ 442
United Airlines, Inc. | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating leases obligations | $ |  | $ 1,400 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Minimum |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Imputed interest rate |  | 3.50% |  |
Lease Fair Value Adjustment, Remaining Lease Term |  | 1 year |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Maximum |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Imputed interest rate |  | 20.80% |  |
Lease Fair Value Adjustment, Remaining Lease Term |  | 8 years |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Mainline |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of assets subject to lease |  | 38 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Regional Carrier |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of assets subject to lease |  | 29 |  |
AerCap Holdings N.V. | A319 aircraft | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered |  | 5 |  |
AerCap Holdings N.V. | Maximum | A319 aircraft | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of used aircraft expected to be delivered over the next five years |  |  | 14 |
SkyWest | Embraer E175 Aircraft | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | Capacity Purchase Arrangement |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered |  | 7 |  |
Number of aircraft operated |  |  | 25 |
Mesa | Embraer E175 Aircraft | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | Capacity Purchase Arrangement |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft committed to purchase |  | 12 |  |
Number of aircraft to be acquired |  | 12 |  |
CommutAir | Embraer ERJ145 Aircraft | Capacity Purchase Arrangement |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft operated |  |  | 40 |
Used aircraft, scheduled transfer end date |  |  | 2018 |
Number of aircrafts to be transferred |  | 28 |  |
Republic | Embraer E175 Aircraft | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | Capacity Purchase Arrangement |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered |  | 12 |  |
Number of aircraft operated |  | 28 | 28 |
Number of aircraft Purchased |  | 16 |  |
Number of aircraft delivered |  | 16 |  |
Number of aircraft owned |  | 12 |  |

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