XML 59 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) |  | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 17, 2017 Aircraft | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) Employee Aircraft | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) Employee Aircraft
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate balance |  | $ 12,000,000,000 | $ 12,000,000,000
Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure |  | 1,800,000,000 | 1,800,000,000
Operating leases obligations |  | 1,400,000,000 | 1,400,000,000
Capital leases obligations |  | 441,000,000 | 441,000,000
Floating Rate Debt |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt instrument principal amount |  | 3,300,000,000 | 3,300,000,000
Fixed Rate Debt |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt instrument principal amount |  | 68,000,000 | 68,000,000
Loans And Leases From Non U S Entities |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate balance |  | 3,200,000,000 | 3,200,000,000
Aircraft Mortgage Debt |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure |  | $ 159,000,000 | $ 159,000,000
Minimum | Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  | 2019
Maximum |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt instrument, remaining terms (years) |  |  | 11 years
Maximum | Tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  | 2038
Maximum | Loans And Leases From Non U S Entities |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt instrument, remaining terms (years) |  |  | 11 years
Air Wisconsin | Maximum | CRJ 200 |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of aircraft to operate | Aircraft | 65 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of aircrafts under the extended term of contract | Aircraft |  | 125 |
Capacity purchase agreement contract expiration date after extension |  | Dec. 31, 2022 |
Debt instrument maturity year |  |  | 2027
Debt instrument principal amount |  | $ 392,000,000 | $ 392,000,000
Number of employees | Employee |  | 89,700 | 89,700
Percentage of employees represented by various U.S. labor organizations |  |  | 80.00%
United Airlines, Inc. | Turboprop Aircraft [Member] |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of aircraft to be retire from service | Aircraft |  | 21 | 21
United Airlines, Inc. | Delivered in Last Three Months of 2017 | Embraer E175 Aircraft |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of additional aircraft ordered for future delivery | Aircraft |  | 5 | 5
United Airlines, Inc. | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
New aircraft, scheduled delivery date |  |  | 2027
United Airlines, Inc. | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | Embraer E175 Aircraft |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered through the remainder of 2017 | Aircraft |  | 5 | 5
United Airlines, Inc. | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | A319 aircraft |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered through the remainder of 2017 | Aircraft |  | 4 | 4
United Airlines, Inc. | Capital Addition Purchase Commitments | Airbus A320 Aircraft |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of aircraft expected to be delivered through the remainder of 2017 | Aircraft |  | 2 | 2

X
- Definition Number of persons employed by the Entity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dei_EntityNumberOfEmployees
Namespace Prefix: | dei_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Capacity Purchase Agreement Contract Expiration Date After Extension + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_CapacityPurchaseAgreementContractExpirationDateAfterExtension
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Debt instrument maturity year + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_DebtInstrumentMaturityYear
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Years remaining on debt instruments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_DebtInstrumentRemainingTerms
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of additional aircraft ordered for future delivery. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_NumberOfAdditionalAircraftOrderedForFutureDelivery
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Aircraft Expected to Be Delivered + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_NumberOfAircraftExpectedToBeDelivered
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of aircraft that will be retired from service. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_NumberOfAircraftToBeRetireFromService
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of aircraft to operate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_NumberOfAircraftToOperate
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The approximate number of aircraft whose term was extended under an existing contract. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_NumberOfAircraftsUnderExtensionOfExistingContractTerms
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of employees represented by labor organizations + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_PercentageOfEmployeesRepresentedByLaborOrganizations
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Scheduled Delivery Year + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_ScheduledDeliveryYear
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84164817&loc=d3e45280-112737 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of contractual obligation, including but not limited to, long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations, and other commitments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ContractualObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913245&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of required minimum rental payments for leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 40 -Subparagraph (Note 3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82846649&loc=d3e38371-112697 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77902758&loc=d3e41502-112717 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ual_TaxExemptBondsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ual_FloatingRateDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ual_FixedRateDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ual_LoansAndLeasesFromNonUSEntitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ual_AircraftMortgageDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ual_AirWisconsinMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AircraftTypeAxis=us-gaap_CRJ200Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ual_UnitedAirLinesIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AircraftTypeAxis=ual_TurbopropAircraftMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ual_PeriodAxis=ual_DeliveredInLastThreeMonthsOfTwentySeventeenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AircraftTypeAxis=us-gaap_EMBMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=us-gaap_CapitalAdditionsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AircraftTypeAxis=ual_AThreeOneNineAircraftMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AircraftTypeAxis=ual_AThreeTwoZeroAirbusMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |