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Leases and Capacity Purchase Agreements - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Aircraft | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Regional capacity purchase expense |  | $ 2,601 | $ 2,232 | [1] | $ 2,197 | [1] |
Expenses |  | 38,011 | 34,113 | [1] | 32,214 | [1] |
Accounts payable |  | 2,363 | 2,196 | [2] |  |  |
Capacity Purchase Agreements | Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Scheduled block hours increase (decrease) percentage | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in cash obligation | $ 160 |  |  |  |  |  |
Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases obligations |  | $ 4,056 |  |  |  |  |
Minimum | Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease expiration date |  | 2019 |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | Aircraft Operating Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 26 years |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease expiration date |  | 2029 |  |  |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Nonaircraft rent expense |  | $ 1,300 | 1,300 |  | 1,200 |  |
Regional capacity purchase expense |  | $ 2,601 | 2,232 | [3] | 2,197 | [3] |
Number of aircrafts under the extended term of contract | Aircraft |  | 125 |  |  |  |  |
Capacity purchase agreement contract expiration date after extension |  | Dec. 31, 2022 |  |  |  |  |
Expenses |  | $ 38,009 | 34,111 | [3] | 32,212 | [3] |
Accounts payable |  | $ 2,363 | 2,196 | [4] |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Capacity Purchase Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of regional aircraft | Aircraft |  | 559 |  |  |  |  |
Airline capacity purchase arrangements, expiration year |  | 2029 |  |  |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Revaluation of Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net accretion amounts |  | $ 60 | 79 |  |  |  | $ 82
United Airlines, Inc. | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating leases obligations |  | 1,300 |  |  |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Regional Aircraft |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Regional capacity purchase expense |  | $ 505 | 458 |  | 439 |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Imputed interest rate |  | 3.50% |  |  |  |  |
Remaining lease term |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Imputed interest rate |  | 115.10% |  |  |  |  |
Remaining lease term |  | 6 years |  |  |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Mainline |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of assets subject to lease | Aircraft |  | 28 |  |  |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Regional Carrier |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of assets subject to lease | Aircraft |  | 90 |  |  |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. | Regional Carrier | Capacity Purchase Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expenses |  | $ 979 | 907 |  | $ 935 |  |
Accounts payable |  | 53 | 24 |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable from regional carriers |  | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |  |  |
CRJ 200 | United Airlines, Inc. | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft to operate | Aircraft |  | 65 |  |  |  |  |
Chicago O'Hare | Airline Use and Lease Agreement - Chicago O'Hare |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 15 years |  |  |  |  |
Chicago O'Hare | Minimum | Hangars, Ground Equipment Maintenance Building and Employee Parking Lease |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 15 years |  |  |  |  |
Chicago O'Hare | Maximum | Hangars, Ground Equipment Maintenance Building and Employee Parking Lease |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease term |  | 30 years |  |  |  |  |
[1] | Amounts adjusted due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. See Note 1 to the financial statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information.
[2] | Amounts adjusted due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). See Note 1 to the financial statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information.
[3] | Amounts adjusted due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. See Note 1 to the financial statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information.
[4] | Amounts adjusted due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). See Note 1 to the financial statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional information.

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