Fair Value Measurements, Investments and Notes Receivable - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) aircraft
Fair Value [Line Items]
Equity method investments	$ 235
Carrying amount of loan receivable	$ 85
Republic Airways Holdings Inc.
Fair Value [Line Items]
Number of aircraft operated \| aircraft	65
Champlain Enterprises LLC
Fair Value [Line Items]
Number of aircraft operated \| aircraft	55
Republic Airways Holdings Inc.
Fair Value [Line Items]
Ownership stake	19.00%
CommuteAir LLC
Fair Value [Line Items]
Ownership stake	40.00%
United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund
Fair Value [Line Items]
Ownership stake	33.00%
Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc., Boom, Alder Fuels LLC, Heart Aerospace Incorporated and ZeroAvia, Inc.
Fair Value [Line Items]
Investment carrying value	$ 344
Corporate Debt \| Maximum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities	2 years

Available-For-Sale Investments, Maturity Term

No definition available.

Name:	ual_AvailableForSaleInvestmentsMaturityTerm
Namespace Prefix:	ual_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair Value [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ual_FairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ual_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482964/270-10-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (ee)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481664/323-10-45-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(10))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-25

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of investment in equity security without readily determinable fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 321
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479536/321-10-50-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost excluding accrued interest, after allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479344/326-20-45-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ual_RepublicAirwaysHoldingsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ual_ChamplainEnterprisesLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=ual_RepublicAirwaysHoldingsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=ual_CommuteAirLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=ual_UnitedAirlinesVenturesSustainableFlightFundMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=ual_FulcrumBioEnergyIncBoomAlderFuelsLLCHeartAerospaceIncorporatedAndZeroAviaIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: