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Special Charges - Additional Information (Detail)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Technician
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
VEF / $
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Contract
plan
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
VEF / $
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Attendant
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Severance and benefits costs $ 15,000,000 $ 23,000,000 $ 41,000,000 $ 37,000,000 $ 10,000,000 $ 13,000,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 8,000,000   $ 116,000,000 $ 37,000,000 $ 107,000,000  
Severance and benefits costs net of tax                     24,000,000    
Impairment of assets $ 10,000,000 $ 15,000,000         412,000,000     25,000,000 $ 412,000,000 79,000,000  
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets                 $ 33,000,000        
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets, net of tax benefits                 22,000,000        
Lease maturity year                     2029    
Cleveland airport lease restructuring               74,000,000     $ 74,000,000    
Cleveland airport lease restructuring, net of taxes                     47,000,000    
Labor agreement costs         $ (60,000,000) $ 14,000,000 10,000,000 100,000,000     64,000,000 18,000,000  
Costs associated with aircraft                 8,000,000        
Inventory held for sale                 $ 7,000,000     7,000,000  
Impairment for discontinued internal software projects                       10,000,000  
Impairment of assets held for disposal                       10,000,000  
Collective bargaining agreements                       18,000,000  
Integration-related costs                       60,000,000  
Charges for legal matters                       32,000,000  
Cease use of an aircraft under lease                       16,000,000  
Losses (gain) on extinguishment of debt and other             $ (9,000,000) $ 8,000,000     $ (1,000,000) 202,000,000  
Venezuela local currency loss                       $ 61,000,000  
Foreign currency exchange rate | VEF / $                 200     200  
Foreign currency exchange rate per US dollar, description                       200 Venezuelan bolivars to one U.S. dollar  
Venezuelan bolivars                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Unrestricted cash balance held as Venezuelan bolivars                 $ 13,000,000     $ 13,000,000  
Postretirement Medical Plan | Flight Attendant Postretirement Medical Plan                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Number of plans amended | plan                     2    
Curtailment gain recognition of prior service credit                     $ 47,000,000    
Curtailment gain recognition of prior service credit,net of tax                     30,000,000    
Newark Liberty International Airport                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets                     412,000,000    
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets, net of tax benefits                     264,000,000    
United Airlines, Inc. | 6% Notes due 2026 and 2028                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Write off of unamortized discount                       $ 134,000,000  
Scenario, Previously Reported                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Foreign currency exchange rate | VEF / $                 13.5     13.5  
Foreign currency exchange rate per US dollar, description                       13.5 Venezuelan bolivars to one U.S. dollar  
International Brotherhood of Teamsters                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Severance and benefits costs                   83,000,000      
Severance and benefits costs net of tax                   53,000,000      
Int'l Association of Machinists                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Curtailment gain recognition of prior service credit                     60,000,000    
Curtailment gain recognition of prior service credit,net of tax                     $ 38,000,000    
Number of new contracts extended | Contract                     7    
Service contract extended year                     2021    
Labor agreement costs                     $ 171,000,000    
Labor agreement costs net of tax                     $ 110,000,000    
Voluntary early out program                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Number of positions eliminated | Attendant                         2,500
Voluntary early out program | Maximum                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Severance payment per participant                         $ 100,000
Voluntary early out program | International Brotherhood of Teamsters                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Number of positions eliminated | Technician       1,000                  
Voluntary early out program | International Brotherhood of Teamsters | Maximum                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Severance payment per participant       $ 100,000                  
Management Reorganization Initiative                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Severance and benefits costs                   33,000,000      
Severance and benefits costs net of tax                   21,000,000      
Integration Related                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other miscellaneous (gains) losses, net                       $ 14,000,000  
Obsolete Spare Parts Inventory                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Impairment of assets                   10,000,000      
Impairment of assets net of tax                   6,000,000      
Maintenance Service Agreement                          
Special Charges [Line Items]                          
Impairment of assets                   15,000,000      
Impairment of assets net of tax                   $ 10,000,000