XML 53 R39.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.2

Earnings Per Share - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jul. 15, 2019
Earnings Loss Per Share [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Repurchases of common stock | $ 536,000,000 | $ 407,000,000 | $ 1,063,000,000 | $ 976,000,000 |
Open Market Repurchase Program |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Loss Per Share [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares repurchased (in shares) | 6.4 |  | 12.7 |  |
Repurchases of common stock | $ 500,000,000 |  | $ 1,100,000,000 |  |
Amount remaining under repurchase programs | $ 700,000,000 |  | $ 700,000,000 |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] | July 2019 Share Repurchase Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Earnings Loss Per Share [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Authorized amount under share repurchase program |  |  |  |  | $ 3,000,000,000.0

X
- Definition Earnings Loss Per Share [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ual_EarningsLossPerShareLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ual_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Equity impact of the cost of common and preferred stock that were repurchased during the period. Recorded using the cost method. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=ual_OpenMarketRepurchaseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=ual_July2019ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |