XML 113 R89.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Leases and Capacity Purchase Agreements - Additional Information (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Aircraft | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Regional capacity purchase expense |  | $ 2,232,000,000 | $ 2,197,000,000 | $ 2,290,000,000
Expenses |  | 34,238,000,000 | 32,218,000,000 | 32,698,000,000
Accounts payable |  | 2,196,000,000 | 2,139,000,000 |
Capacity Purchase Agreements | Scenario Forecast |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Scheduled block hours increase (decrease) percentage | 10.00% |  |  |
Change in cash obligation | $ 147,000,000 |  |  |
Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating leases obligations |  | $ 4,932,000,000 |  |
Minimum | Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 5 years |  |
Operating lease expiration date, in years |  | 2018 |  |
Maximum | Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 26 years |  |
Operating lease expiration date, in years |  | 2029 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Nonaircraft rent expense |  | $ 1,300,000,000 | 1,200,000,000 | 1,300,000,000
Regional capacity purchase expense |  | $ 2,232,000,000 | 2,197,000,000 | 2,290,000,000
Number of aircrafts under the extended term of contract | Aircraft |  | 125 |  |
Capacity purchase agreement contract expiration date after extension |  | Dec. 31, 2022 |  |
Expenses |  | $ 34,236,000,000 | 32,215,000,000 | 32,696,000,000
Accounts payable |  | $ 2,196,000,000 | 2,144,000,000 |
United Airlines, Inc. | Capacity Purchase Agreements |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of regional aircraft | Aircraft |  | 518 |  |
Airline capacity purchase arrangements, expiration year |  | 2029 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Revaluation of Liabilities |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Net accretion amounts |  | $ 79,000,000 | 82,000,000 | 107,000,000
United Airlines, Inc. | Regional Aircraft |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Regional capacity purchase expense |  | 458,000,000 | 439,000,000 | 461,000,000
United Airlines, Inc. | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Operating leases obligations |  | $ 1,400,000,000 |  |
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 |  | 7 years |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Maximum | CRJ 200 |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft to operate | Aircraft |  | 65 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Mainline |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of assets subject to lease | Aircraft |  | 31 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Regional Carrier |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of assets subject to lease | Aircraft |  | 43 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Regional Carrier | Capacity Purchase Agreements |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Expenses |  | $ 538,000,000 | 486,000,000 | $ 366,000,000
Accounts payable |  | 24,000,000 | 32,000,000 |
Accounts receivable from regional carriers |  | $ 0 | $ 0 |

X
- Definition Airline, Capacity Purchase Arrangements Expiration Year + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_AirlineCapacityPurchaseArrangementsExpirationYear
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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 Capital Lease Imputed Interest Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_CapitalLeaseImputedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Increase (Decrease) in Cash Obligation + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_IncreaseDecreaseInCashObligation
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Lease Remaining Term + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_LeaseRemainingTerm
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net Accretion Amounts of Noncurrent Deferred Finance Costs Liability + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_NetAccretionAmountsOfNoncurrentDeferredFinanceCostsLiability
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Nonaircraft Rent Expense + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_NonaircraftRentExpense
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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 Number Of Assets Subject to Lease + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_NumberOfAssetsSubjectToLease
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Operating Lease Expiration Year + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_OperatingLeaseExpirationYear
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Scheduled Block Hours Increase (Decrease) Percentage + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_ScheduledBlockHoursIncreaseDecreasePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection. + References Reference 1: 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(3)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 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(4)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Costs incurred related to air services provided by third-party transportation companies, including regional affiliates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AirlineCapacityPurchaseArrangements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total costs of sales and operating expenses for the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LesseeLeasingArrangementsOperatingLeasesTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of aircraft operated by the carrier. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfAircraftOperated
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=ual_CapacityPurchaseAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LeaseArrangementTypeAxis=ual_AircraftOperatingLeasesMember
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_UnitedAirLinesIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FreshStartAdjustmentsTypeOfFreshStartAdjustmentAxis=us-gaap_RevaluationOfLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorPropertyClassAxis=ual_RegionalAircraftMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityNotPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
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: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_MainlineMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_RegionalCarrierMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |