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Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 20, 2021 supplier kitchen | Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) commitment aircraft employee | Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) commitment aircraft employee | Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) commitment aircraft employee | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Nov. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft delivered | aircraft |  |  |  | 20 |  |  |  |
Remaining term of debt |  |  |  | 11 years |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of employees represented by various U.S. labor organizations | 70.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of outside suppliers | supplier | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of kitchens | kitchen | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Flight Equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft delivered | aircraft |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  |
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft delivered | aircraft |  |  |  | 13 |  |  |  |
Current/Long-Term Obligations under Operating Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft delivered | aircraft |  |  |  | 13 |  |  |  |
United Airlines, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of employees | employee |  | 85,300 | 85,300 | 85,300 |  |  |  |
Percentage of employees represented by various U.S. labor organizations |  |  |  | 85.00% |  |  |  |
Avianca Holdings S.A. (“AVH”) | Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, value outstanding |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |
BRW | Term Loan Receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loan amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 456,000,000
Kingsland |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares that may be put to United (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 144.8
Number of ADRs that may be put into United (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18.1
Market price of common stock at fifth anniversary (in dollars per share) (less than) | $ / shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 12
Aggregate maximum possible combined put payment and guarantee amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 217,000,000
Kingsland | Standby Letters of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash collateral for a standby letter of credit |  | $ 217,000,000 | $ 217,000,000 | $ 217,000,000 |  |  | $ 217,000,000 |
Tax-Exempt Special Facilities Revenue Bonds |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate principal amount of guarantee |  | 2,100,000,000 | 2,100,000,000 | 2,100,000,000 |  |  |  |
Aircraft Mortgage Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate principal amount of guarantee |  | 109,000,000 | 109,000,000 | 109,000,000 |  |  |  |
Floating Rate Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt |  | 13,300,000,000 | 13,300,000,000 | $ 13,300,000,000 |  |  |  |
Loans and Leases from Non-U.S. Entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remaining term of debt |  |  |  | 11 years |  |  |  |
Aggregate balance |  | $ 10,100,000,000 | $ 10,100,000,000 | $ 10,100,000,000 |  |  |  |
Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Secured Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Face amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 289,000,000 |  |
Stated interest rate |  |  |  |  |  | 4.00% |  |
Boeing 737 MAX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft delivered | aircraft |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft committed to purchase | commitment |  | 371 | 371 | 371 |  |  |  |
Airbus A321neo |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft committed to purchase | commitment |  | 70 | 70 | 70 |  |  |  |
Airbus A319 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft committed to purchase | aircraft |  | 10 | 10 | 10 |  |  |  |
Embraer E175 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of aircraft operated | aircraft |  | 38 |  |  |  |  |  |
Embraer E175 | United Airlines, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term purchase commitment, period |  | 12 years |  |  |  |  |  |

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