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Total comprehensive income, net

^[1]

(122)

(201)

145

(220)

4,694

723

6,662

884

United Airlines, Inc.

Net income

4,776

933

6,478

1,122

Other comprehensive income (loss), net change related to:

Fuel derivative financial instruments

(104)

(120)

129

(95)

Employee benefit plans

(12)

(82)

(121)

Investments and other

(6)

(1)

(4)

Total comprehensive income, net

(122)

(201)

146

(220)

$ 4,654

$ 732

$ 6,624

$ 902

[1]	UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Cash and cash equivalents

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References + Details

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)
$ in Millions

Sep. 30, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Current assets:

$ 3,427

$ 2,002

Short-term investments

2,172

2,382

Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2015-$18; 2014-$22)

1,513

1,146

Fuel hedge collateral deposits

156

577

Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance (2015-$226; 2014-$169)

704

666

Prepaid expenses and other

1,306

591

819

774

Total current assets

10,097

8,138

Operating property and equipment: Owned-

23,231

21,107

Operating property and equipment - owned, gross

4,342

4,016

27,573

25,123

Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization

(8,038)

(7,079)

Operating property and equipment - owned, net

19,535

18,044

Purchase deposits for flight equipment

736

706

Capital leases-

1,562

1,272

Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross

331

1,893

1,603

Less-Accumulated amortization

(988)

(886)

Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net

905

717

Total property, plant, and equipment, net

21,176

19,467

Other assets:

Goodwill

4,523

Intangibles, less accumulated amortization (2015-$1,120; 2014-$1,049)

4,193

4,284

846

Restricted cash

206

276

Other, net

828

665

Other assets total

10,596

9,748

Total assets

41,869

37,353

Current liabilities:

Advance ticket sales

4,492

3,701

Accrued salaries and benefits

2,138

2,058

Accounts payable

2,082

1,882

2,187

1,818

Current maturities of long-term debt

1,312

1,313

Current maturities of capital leases

137

110

Fuel derivative instruments

329

694

Total current liabilities

811

932

13,488

12,508

Long-term debt

9,910

10,121

Long-term obligations under capital leases

762

571

Other liabilities and deferred credits:

Postretirement benefit liability

2,796

2,879

1,918

1,933

Pension liability

1,511

2,226

Advanced purchase of miles

1,070

1,217

Lease fair value adjustment, net

1,591

380

466

Total Other liabilities and deferred credits

1,479

1,445

9,154

11,757

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholder's equity:

Preferred stock

Common stock

Additional capital invested

7,941

7,721

Retained earnings (deficit)

2,634

(3,883)

Stock held in treasury, at cost

(1,090)

(367)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

^[1]

(934)

(1,079)

Total stockholders' equity

8,555

2,396

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)

41,869

37,353

United Airlines, Inc.

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

3,421

1,996

Short-term investments

2,172

2,382

Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2015-$18; 2014-$22)

1,513

1,146

Fuel hedge collateral deposits

156

577

Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, less obsolescence allowance (2015-$226; 2014-$169)

704

666

Prepaid expenses and other

1,304

591

867

823

Total current assets

10,137

8,181

Operating property and equipment: Owned-

23,231

21,107

Operating property and equipment - owned, gross

4,342

4,016

27,573

25,123

Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization

(8,038)

(7,079)

Operating property and equipment - owned, net

19,535

18,044

Purchase deposits for flight equipment

736

706

Capital leases-

1,562

1,272

Operating property and equipment - capital leases, gross

331

1,893

1,603

Less-Accumulated amortization

(988)

(886)

Operating property and equipment - capital leases, net

905

717

Total property, plant, and equipment, net

21,176

19,467

Other assets:

Goodwill

4,523

Intangibles, less accumulated amortization (2015-$1,120; 2014-$1,049)

4,193

4,284

807

Restricted cash

206

276

Other, net

828

1,377

Other assets total

10,557

10,460

Total assets

41,870

38,108

Current liabilities:

Advance ticket sales

4,492

3,701

Accrued salaries and benefits

2,138

2,058

Accounts payable

2,086

1,886

2,187

1,818

Current maturities of long-term debt

1,312

1,313

Current maturities of capital leases

137

110

Fuel derivative instruments

329

694

Total current liabilities

811

933

13,492

12,513

Long-term debt

9,910

10,120

Long-term obligations under capital leases

762

571

Other liabilities and deferred credits:

Postretirement benefit liability

2,796

2,879

1,918

1,933

Pension liability

1,511

2,226

Advanced purchase of miles

1,070

1,217

Lease fair value adjustment, net

1,591

380

466

Total Other liabilities and deferred credits

1,479

1,957

9,154

12,269

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholder's equity:

Common stock

Additional capital invested

6,652

7,347

Retained earnings (deficit)

2,850

(3,628)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(933)

(1,079)

Receivable from related parties

(17)

(5)

Total stockholders' equity

8,552

2,635

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)

$ 41,870

$ 38,108

[1]	UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 18	$ 22
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, obsolescence allowance	226	169
Intangibles, accumulated amortization	$ 1,120	$ 1,049
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common shares, authorized	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common shares, outstanding	373,729,883	374,525,916
United Airlines, Inc.
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 18	$ 22
Aircraft fuel, spare parts and supplies, obsolescence allowance	226	169
Intangibles, accumulated amortization	$ 1,120	$ 1,049
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common shares, authorized	1,000	1,000
Common shares, issued	1,000	1,000
Common shares, outstanding	1,000	1,000

Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 4,877	$ 2,732
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,984)	(1,345)
Purchases of short-term and other investments	(1,859)	(2,859)
Proceeds from sale of short-term and other investments	2,069	2,388
Investment in affiliates	(130)
Decrease in restricted cash	112	79
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	50	73
Other, net	23	34
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,719)	(1,630)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Payments of long-term debt	(1,528)	(2,001)
Repurchases of common stock	(710)	(220)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	613	1,177
Principal payments under capital leases	(80)	(81)
Other, net	(28)	(80)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,733)	(1,205)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,425	(103)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	2,002	3,220
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,427	3,117
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt	797	757
Operating lease conversions to capital lease	285	8
Airport construction financing	5	14
Conversion of convertible notes to UAL common stock	201	202
United Airlines, Inc.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,866	2,623
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,984)	(1,345)
Purchases of short-term and other investments	(1,859)	(2,859)
Proceeds from sale of short-term and other investments	2,069	2,388
Investment in affiliates	(130)
Decrease in restricted cash	112	79
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	50	73
Other, net	23	34
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,719)	(1,630)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Payments of long-term debt	(1,528)	(2,001)
Dividend to UAL	(709)	(120)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	613	1,177
Principal payments under capital leases	(80)	(81)
Other, net	(18)	(71)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,722)	(1,096)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,425	(103)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	1,996	3,214
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	3,421	3,111
Investing and Financing Activities Not Affecting Cash:
Property and equipment acquired through the issuance of debt	797	757
Operating lease conversions to capital lease	285	8
Airport construction financing	$ 5	14
Transfer of UAL subsidiaries to United		186
Conversion of convertible notes to UAL common stock		$ 156

Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Significant Accounting Policies

NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Recently Issued Accounting Standards. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and created a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This amendment prescribes that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendment supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification, and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the impact on its financial statements.

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This standard amends existing guidance to require the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of a deferred charge. It is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, but early adoption is permitted. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had approximately $180 million of unamortized debt issuance costs recorded as an asset on its balance sheet included under the caption Other, net. The Company will reclassify the unamortized debt issuance costs and present debt net of those unamortized costs on its balance sheet upon adoption of this standard.

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent). Under the standard, investments for which fair value is measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) using the practical expedient will no longer be categorized in the fair value hierarchy. It is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, but early adoption is permitted. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had approximately $200 million of such investments as part of its Short-term investments balance sheet total. In addition, pension plan investments measured at net asset value per share, if any, will no longer be categorized within the fair value hierarchy beginning with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2015.

Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Earnings Per Share

NOTE 2 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

The table below represents the computation of UAL’s basic and diluted earnings per share amounts and the number of securities that have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share amounts because they were antidilutive (in millions, except per share amounts):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings available to common stockholders	$	4,816	$	924	$	6,517	$	1,104

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		375		370		379		370

Earnings per share, basic	$	12.83	$	2.50	$	17.19	$	2.98

Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings available to common stockholders	$	4,816	$	924	$	6,517	$	1,104
Effect of convertible notes		—		7		—		20

Earnings available to common stockholders including the effect of dilutive securities	$	4,816	$	931	$	6,517	$	1,124

Diluted shares outstanding:
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		375		370		379		370
Effect of convertible notes		—		22		—		24
Effect of employee stock awards		1		1		1		1

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		376		393		380		395

Earnings per share, diluted	$	12.82	$	2.37	$	17.15	$	2.84

Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:
Restricted stock and stock options		—		1		—		1

In January 2015, the holders of substantially all of the remaining $202 million principal amount of United’s 4.5% Convertible Notes due 2015 (the “4.5% Convertible Notes”) exercised their conversion option resulting in the issuance of 11 million shares of UAL common stock. There is no convertible debt outstanding as of September 30, 2015.

In 2014, UAL’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program to acquire up to $1 billion of UAL’s common stock (the “2014 Program”). On July 21, 2015, UAL’s Board of Directors authorized a new $3 billion share repurchase program, which the Company expects to complete by December 31, 2017 (the “2015 Program”). UAL spent $262 million and $712 million to repurchase approximately 4.6 million and 11.9 million shares of UAL common stock in open market transactions in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had completed purchases under the 2014 Program and had $2.97 billion remaining to spend under the 2015 Program. On October 22, 2015, UAL expects to enter into agreements under which it will repurchase approximately $300 million of shares of UAL common stock through an accelerated share repurchase program. The specific number of shares that UAL expects ultimately to repurchase under this accelerated share repurchase program will be determined based on a calculation period not to exceed approximately three months. UAL may repurchase shares through the open market, privately negotiated transactions, block trades, or accelerated share repurchase transactions from time to time in accordance with applicable securities laws. UAL will repurchase shares of common stock subject to prevailing market conditions, and may discontinue such repurchases at any time. See Part II, Item 2, “Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds” of this report for additional information.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

NOTE 3 - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The tables below present the components of the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (“AOCI”) (in millions):


UAL (a)	Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities		Derivative Contracts		Investments and Other		Pension and Other Postretirement Deferred Taxes		Derivative Contracts Deferred Taxes			Total
Balance at June 30, 2015	$	(442)	$	(266)	$	11	$	(115)	$	—		$	(812)
Changes in value		(10)		(181)		(6)		(1)		82			(116)
Amounts reclassified to earnings		8		150		—		(9)		(155)			(6)

Net change		(2)		(31)		(6)		(10)		(73)			(122)

Balance at September 30, 2015	$	(444)	$	(297)	$	5	$	(125)	$	(73)		$	(934)

Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(472)	$	(499)	$	7	$	(115)	$	—	(b)	$	(1,079)
Changes in value		3		(227)		(1)		(1)		82			(144)
Amounts reclassified to earnings		25		429		(1)		(9)		(155)			289

Net change		28		202		(2)		(10)		(73)			145

Balance at September 30, 2015	$	(444)	$	(297)	$	5	$	(125)	$	(73)		$	(934)


UAL (a)	Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities		Derivative Contracts		Investments and Other		Pension and Other Postretirement Deferred Taxes		Derivative Contracts Deferred Taxes			Total
Balance at June 30, 2014	$	660	$	36	$	8	$	(115)	$	—		$	589
Changes in value (c)		(66)		(120)		3		—		—			(183)
Amounts reclassified to earnings (c)		(16)		—		(2)		—		—			(18)

Net change		(82)		(120)		1		—		—			(201)

Balance at September 30, 2014	$	578	$	(84)	$	9	$	(115)	$	—		$	388

Balance at December 31, 2013	$	699	$	11	$	13	$	(115)	$	—		$	608
Changes in value (c)		(71)		(99)		4		—		—			(166)
Amounts reclassified to earnings (c)		(50)		4		(8)		—		—			(54)

Net change		(121)		(95)		(4)		—		—			(220)

Balance at September 30, 2014	$	578	$	(84)	$	9	$	(115)	$	—		$	388


Details about AOCI Components	Amount Reclassified from AOCI to Income								Affected Line Item in the Statements of Consolidated Operations
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings	$	150	$	—	$	429	$	4	Aircraft fuel
Amortization of pension and post-retirement items
Amortization of unrecognized (gains) losses and prior service cost (credit) (d)		8		(16)		25		(50)	Salaries and related costs
Investments and other
Available for sale securities-reclassifications of gains into earnings		—		(2)		(1)		(8)	Miscellaneous, net

(a) UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

(b) Deferred tax balance was offset by the Company’s valuation allowance.

(d) This AOCI component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement costs (see Note 5 of this report for additional information).

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

The entire disclosure for comprehensive income, which includes, but is not limited to, 1) the amount of income tax expense or benefit allocated to each component of other comprehensive income, including reclassification adjustments, 2) the reclassification adjustments for each classification of other comprehensive income and 3) the ending accumulated balances for each component of comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e689-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669619-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e640-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e716-108580

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 16
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e709-108580

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-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 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e681-108580

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Reclassification Adjustments
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6522872

+ Details

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Income Taxes

NOTE 4 - INCOME TAXES

The Company’s income tax benefit was $3.2 billion for both the third quarter of 2015 and nine months ended September 30, 2015. This compares to an income tax benefit of $4 million in the third quarter of 2014 and a $1 million tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. A discrete tax benefit of $3.1 billion for the reduction to the U.S. net federal deferred tax asset valuation allowance and an approximately $100 million tax benefit related to a reduction to the net state deferred tax asset valuation allowance was included in the income tax benefit for the third quarter of 2015 and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

During 2015, the Company recorded a pre-tax profit of $3.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2015, after considering all positive and negative evidence and the four sources of taxable income, the Company concluded that its deferred income tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. In evaluating the likelihood of utilizing the Company’s net federal and state deferred tax assets, the significant relevant factors that the Company considered are: (1) its recent history and forecasted profitability; (2) growth in the U.S. and global economies; and (3) future impact of taxable temporary differences. Therefore, the Company released almost all of its valuation allowance in the third quarter of 2015, resulting in a $3.2 billion benefit in its provision for income taxes. Additionally, during the current year, the Company expects there will be other reductions of the U.S. federal and state valuation allowances in the normal course as the Company recognizes U.S. taxable income. This taxable income will reduce the deferred tax asset on Net Operating Losses (“NOLs”) and will result in a reduction of the valuation allowances.

The Company expects it will retain a valuation allowance of approximately $82 million against certain state and local NOLs and credit carryforwards at the end of the year. The Company expects these NOLs and credits will expire unused due to limited carryforward periods. The ability to recognize the remaining valuation allowance against these state NOLs and credits will be evaluated on a quarterly basis to determine if there are any significant events or any prudent and feasible tax planning strategies that would affect the Company's ability to utilize these deferred tax assets.

The Company’s effective tax rates differ from the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily because of the impact of changes to existing valuation allowances. The change in the effective tax rate each period is impacted by a number of factors, including the relative mix of domestic and state income tax expense in the U.S., adjustments to the valuation allowances, and discrete items. After 2015, the Company anticipated its effective tax rate will be approximately 37%, which reflects a more normalized rate based upon the Company's relative mix of domestic, foreign and state income tax expense.

Employee Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Employee Benefit Plans

NOTE 5 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans. The Company’s net periodic benefit cost includes the following components (in millions):


	Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Three Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Service cost	$	31	$	24	$	5	$	5
Interest cost		50		50		20		22
Expected return on plan assets		(49)		(45)		—		(1)
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		21		3		(13)		(19)
Settlement (gain) loss		1		(1)		—		—

Total	$	54	$	31	$	12	$	7


	Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
	Nine Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Service cost	$	93	$	73	$	15	$	14
Interest cost		150		151		61		66
Expected return on plan assets		(147)		(134)		(1)		(2)
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		65		8		(40)		(58)
Settlement (gain) loss		2		(1)		—		—

Total	$	163	$	97	$	35	$	20

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company contributed $800 million to its U.S. domestic tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans.

Share-Based Compensation. The Company generally grants incentive compensation awards, including long-term equity based awards, during the first quarter of the calendar year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, UAL granted share-based compensation awards pursuant to the United Continental Holdings, Inc. 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan. These share-based compensation awards include approximately 0.2 million shares of restricted stock and 0.3 million restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that vest pro-rata over three years on the anniversary of the grant date. The time-vested RSUs are cash-settled based on the 20-day average closing price of UAL common stock immediately prior to the vesting date. The Company also granted 0.6 million performance-based RSUs that will vest based on the Company’s return on invested capital and the Company’s relative improvement in pre-tax margin for the three years ending December 31, 2017. If these performance conditions are achieved, cash payments will be made after the end of the performance period based on the 20-day average closing price of UAL common stock immediately prior to the vesting date. The Company accounts for the RSUs as liability awards.

The table below presents information related to share-based compensation (in millions):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Share-based compensation expense	$	7	$	23	$	40	$	69

	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Unrecognized share-based compensation	$	48	$	62

Profit Sharing Plans. Substantially all employees participate in profit sharing, which varies from 5% to 20% of pre-tax earnings, excluding special items, profit sharing expense and share-based compensation, depending on the work group and in some cases at varying percentages above and below certain pre-tax margin thresholds. Eligible U.S. co-workers in each participating work group receive a profit sharing payout using a formula based on the ratio of each qualified co-worker’s annual eligible earnings to the eligible earnings of all qualified co-workers in all domestic work groups. Eligible non-U.S. co-workers receive profit sharing based on the calculation under the U.S. profit sharing plan for management and administrative employees. Profit sharing expense is recorded as a component of Salaries and related costs in the Company’s statements of consolidated operations.

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

NOTE 6 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The table below presents disclosures about the financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company’s financial statements (in millions):


	September 30, 2015								December 31, 2014
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	UAL
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,427	$	3,427	$	—	$	—	$	2,002	$	2,002	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments:
Asset-backed securities		673		—		673		—		901		—		901		—
Corporate debt		908		—		908		—		876		—		876		—
Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”)		301		—		301		—		256		—		256		—
Auction rate securities		16		—		—		16		26		—		—		26
U.S. government and agency notes		49		—		49		—		68		—		68		—
Other fixed income securities		225		—		225		—		255		—		255		—
Enhanced equipment trust certificates (“EETC”)		26		—		—		26		28		—		—		28
Fuel derivatives liability, net		(312)		—		(312)		—		(717)		—		(717)		—
Foreign currency derivatives asset, net		2		—		2		—		2		—		2		—
Restricted cash		208		208		—		—		320		320		—		—

	United
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,421	$	3,421	$	—	$	—	$	1,996	$	1,996	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments:
Asset-backed securities		673		—		673		—		901		—		901		—
Corporate debt		908		—		908		—		876		—		876		—
CDARS		301		—		301		—		256		—		256		—
Auction rate securities		16		—		—		16		26		—		—		26
U.S. government and agency notes		49		—		49		—		68		—		68		—
Other fixed income securities		225		—		225		—		255		—		255		—
EETC		26		—		—		26		28		—		—		28
Fuel derivatives liability, net		(312)		—		(312)		—		(717)		—		(717)		—
Foreign currency derivatives asset, net		2		—		2		—		2		—		2		—
Restricted cash		208		208		—		—		320		320		—		—
Convertible debt derivative asset		—		—		—		—		712		—		—		712
Convertible debt derivative option liability		—		—		—		—		(511)		—		—		(511)

United’s debt-related derivatives presented in the tables above related to (a) supplemental indentures that provided that United’s convertible debt was convertible into shares of UAL common stock upon the terms and conditions specified in the indentures, and (b) the embedded conversion options in United’s convertible debt that were required to be separated and accounted for as though they were free-standing derivatives as a result of the United debt becoming convertible into the common stock of a different reporting entity. The derivatives described above related to the 4.5% Convertible Notes. Gains (losses) on these derivatives were recorded in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in United’s statements of consolidated operations. These derivatives along with their gains (losses) were reported in United’s separate financial statements and were eliminated in consolidation for UAL. In January 2015, the holders of substantially all of the remaining $202 million principal amount of the 4.5% Convertible Notes exercised their conversion option resulting in the issuance of 11 million shares of UAL common stock. The derivative assets and liabilities associated with the 4.5% Convertible Notes were settled in connection with the retirement of the related convertible debt, and the final accounting did not materially impact UAL’s or United’s statements of consolidated operations.

Available-for-sale investment maturities - The short-term investments shown in the table above are classified as available-for-sale. As of September 30, 2015, asset-backed securities have remaining maturities of less than one year to approximately 40 years, corporate debt securities have remaining maturities of less than one year to approximately seven years and CDARS have maturities of less than one year. U.S. government and other securities have maturities of less than one year to approximately three years. The EETC securities mature in 2019.

Derivative instruments and investments presented in the tables above have the same fair value as their carrying value. The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above (in millions):


	Fair Value of Debt by Fair Value Hierarchy Level
	September 30, 2015										December 31, 2014
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value								Carrying Amount		Fair Value
			Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3				Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
UAL debt	$	11,222	$	11,575	$	—	$	8,437	$	3,138	$	11,434	$	12,386	$	—	$	8,568	$	3,818
United debt		11,222		11,575		—		8,437		3,138		11,433		12,386		—		8,568		3,818

Fair value of the financial instruments included in the tables above was determined as follows:


Description		Fair Value Methodology
Cash and cash equivalents		The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these assets.

Short-term investments and Restricted cash		Fair value is based on (a) the trading prices of the investment or similar instruments, (b) an income approach, which uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts into a single present amount based on current market expectations about those future amounts when observable trading prices are not available, (c) internally-developed models of the expected future cash flows related to the securities, or (d) broker quotes obtained by third-party valuation services.

Fuel derivatives		Derivative contracts are privately negotiated contracts and are not exchange traded. Fair value measurements are estimated with option pricing models that employ observable inputs. Inputs to the valuation models include contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, fuel price curves and measures of volatility, among others.

Foreign currency derivatives		Fair value is determined with a formula utilizing observable inputs. Significant inputs to the valuation models include contractual terms, risk-free interest rates and forward exchange rates.

Debt		Fair values were based on either market prices or the discounted amount of future cash flows using our current incremental rate of borrowing for similar liabilities.

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Hedging Activities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Hedging Activities

NOTE 7 - HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Fuel Derivatives

The Company routinely hedges a portion of its expected aircraft fuel requirements to protect against increases in the price of fuel. The Company may restructure hedges in response to market conditions prior to their original settlement dates which may result in changes in hedge coverage levels and the potential recognition of gains or losses on such hedge contracts. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had hedged approximately 23% and 17% of its projected fuel requirements (221 million gallons and 652 million gallons, respectively) for the remainder of 2015 and 2016, respectively, with commonly used financial hedge instruments based on aircraft fuel or crude oil. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had fuel hedges expiring through December 2016.

Upon proper qualification, the Company accounts for certain fuel derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. All derivatives designated as hedges that meet certain requirements are granted hedge accounting treatment. Instruments that qualify for hedge accounting treatment typically include swaps, call options, collars (which consist of a purchased call option and a sold put option) and four-way collars (a collar with a higher strike sold call option and a lower strike purchased put option). Generally, utilizing hedge accounting, all periodic changes in fair value of the derivatives designated as hedges that are considered to be effective are recorded in AOCI until the underlying fuel is consumed and recorded in fuel expense. The Company is exposed to the risk that its hedges may not be effective in offsetting changes in the cost of fuel and that its hedges may not continue to qualify for hedge accounting. Hedge ineffectiveness results when the change in the fair value of the cash flow hedge exceeds the change in the value of the Company’s expected future cash outlay to purchase fuel. To the extent that the periodic changes in the fair value of the derivatives are not effective, that ineffectiveness is classified as Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in the statements of consolidated operations.

The Company also uses certain combinations of derivative contracts that are economic hedges but do not qualify for hedge accounting under GAAP. Additionally, the Company may enter into contracts at different times and later combine those contracts into structures designated for hedge accounting. As with derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting, the economic hedges and individual contracts are part of the Company’s program to mitigate the adverse financial impact of potential increases in the price of fuel. The Company records changes in the fair value of these various contracts that are not designated for hedge accounting to Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net in the statements of consolidated operations.

If the Company settles a derivative prior to its contractual settlement date, then the cumulative gain or loss recognized in AOCI at the termination date remains in AOCI until the forecasted transaction occurs. In a situation where it becomes probable that a hedged forecasted transaction will not occur, any gains and/or losses that have been recorded to AOCI would be required to be immediately reclassified into earnings. All cash flows associated with purchasing and settling derivatives are classified as operating cash flows in the condensed statements of consolidated cash flows.

The Company records each derivative instrument as a derivative asset or liability (on a gross basis) in its consolidated balance sheets, and, accordingly, records any related collateral on a gross basis. The table below presents the fair value amounts of fuel derivative assets and liabilities and the location of amounts recognized in the Company’s financial statements.

The Company’s derivatives were reported in its consolidated balance sheets as follows (in millions):


Classification	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
Assets:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables	$	6	$	—
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net		7		—

Total assets		$	13	$	—

Liabilities:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Fuel derivative instruments	$	217	$	450
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		—		27

Total liabilities		$	217	$	477

Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
Assets:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables	$	4	$	6
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net		—		—

Total assets		$	4	$	6

Liabilities:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Fuel derivative instruments	$	112	$	244
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		—		2

Total liabilities		$	112	$	246

Total derivatives
Assets:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables	$	10	$	6
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net		7		—

Total assets		$	17	$	6

Liabilities:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Fuel derivative instruments	$	329	$	694
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		—		29

Total liabilities		$	329	$	723

Derivative Credit Risk and Fair Value

The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to its derivative instruments. While the Company records derivative instruments on a gross basis, the Company monitors its net derivative position with each counterparty to monitor credit risk. Based on the fair value of our fuel derivative instruments, our counterparties may require us to post collateral when the price of the underlying commodity decreases, and we may require our counterparties to provide us with collateral when the price of the underlying commodity increases. The Company posted $156 million and $577 million of collateral with fuel derivative counterparties as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The collateral is recorded as Fuel hedge collateral deposits on the Company’s balance sheet.

We have master trading agreements with all of our fuel hedging counterparties that allow us to net our fuel hedge derivative positions. We have elected not to net the fair value positions recorded on our consolidated balance sheets. The following table shows the potential net fair value positions (including fuel derivatives and related collateral) had we elected to offset. The table reflects offset at the counterparty level (in millions):


	September 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Fuel derivative instruments	$	(238	)	$	(209	)
Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		—			(30	)

Hedge derivatives liabilities, net	$	(238	)	$	(239	)

The following tables present the impact of derivative instruments and their location within the Company’s unaudited statements of consolidated operations (in millions):

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges


	Amount of Loss Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)						Loss Reclassified from AOCI into Fuel Expense					Amount of Loss Recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net (Ineffective Portion)
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Three Months Ended September 30,					Three Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014		2015		2014
Fuel contracts	$	(181	)	$	(120	)	$	(150	)	$	—	$	—	$	(8	)

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges


	Amount of Loss Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)						Loss Reclassified from AOCI into Fuel Expense						Amount of Loss Recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net (Ineffective Portion)
	Nine Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014			2015		2014
Fuel contracts	$	(227	)	$	(99	)	$	(429	)	$	(4	)	$	—	$	(4	)

Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting

Fuel contracts


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014
Amount of loss recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net	$	(67	)	$	(102	)	$	(69	)	$	(103	)

Foreign Currency Derivatives

The Company generates revenues and incurs expenses in numerous foreign currencies. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates impact the Company’s results of operations through changes in the dollar value of foreign currency-denominated operating revenues and expenses. Some of the Company’s more significant foreign currency exposures include the Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi, European euro, British pound and Japanese yen. At times, the Company uses derivative financial instruments, such as options, collars and forward contracts, to hedge its exposure to foreign currency. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for non-risk management purposes. At September 30, 2015, the Company had foreign currency derivative contracts in place to hedge European euro denominated sales. The notional amount of the hedges equates to 36% and 21% of the Company’s projected European euro denominated net cash inflows for the remainder of 2015 and 2016, respectively. Net cash relates primarily to passenger ticket sales inflows partially offset by expenses paid in local currencies. At September 30, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s foreign currency derivatives was an asset of $2 million.

Commitments and Contingencies

The entire disclosure for derivative instruments and hedging activities including, but not limited to, risk management strategies, non-hedging derivative instruments, assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and methodologies and assumptions used in determining the amounts.

+ References

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+ Details

Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

NOTE 8 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments. As of September 30, 2015, United had firm commitments and options to purchase aircraft from The Boeing Company (“Boeing”), Embraer S.A. (“Embraer”) and Airbus S.A.S. (“Airbus”) presented in the table below:


Aircraft Type	Number of Firm Commitments (a)
Airbus A350-1000		35
Boeing 737NG/737 MAX 9		117
Boeing 777-300ER		10
Boeing 787-8/-9/-10		33
Embraer E175		10
(a) United also has options and purchase rights for additional aircraft.

The aircraft listed in the table above are scheduled for delivery through 2024. For the remainder of 2015, United expects to take delivery of two Boeing 737NG aircraft and three Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

As of September 30, 2015, United has secured backstop financing commitments from certain of its aircraft manufacturers for a limited number of its future aircraft deliveries, subject to certain customary conditions. Financing may be necessary to satisfy the Company’s capital commitments for its firm order aircraft and other related capital expenditures. See Note 9 of this report for additional information on aircraft financing.

The table below summarizes United’s commitments as of September 30, 2015, which primarily relate to the acquisition of aircraft and related spare engines, aircraft improvements and include other commitments primarily to acquire information technology services and assets. Any new firm aircraft orders, including through the exercise of purchase options and purchase rights, will increase the total future capital commitments of the Company.


	(in billions)
Last three months of 2015	$	0.6
2016		3.0
2017		2.3
2018		2.3
2019		3.1
After 2019		10.7

	$	22.0

Aircraft Operating Leases. During the second quarter of 2015, the Company reached an agreement with AerCap Holdings N.V., a major aircraft leasing company (“AerCap”), to lease used Airbus A319s. Eleven aircraft will be delivered over the next two years beginning in early 2016. In addition, up to 14 more aircraft may be delivered over the next five years subject to certain conditions.

In September 2015, United entered into an amendment to the capacity purchase agreement (“CPA”) with SkyWest Airlines, Inc. (“SkyWest”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc., to operate 18 new Embraer E175 aircraft under the United Express brand. SkyWest will purchase all of these 76-seat aircraft directly from the manufacturer with deliveries in 2016 and 2017.

In October 2015, United also entered into an amendment to the CPA with Mesa Air Group, Inc. and Mesa Airlines, Inc. (“Mesa”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mesa Air Group, Inc., pursuant to which Mesa will operate under the United Express brand an additional 15 new 76-seat Embraer E175 aircraft, with deliveries in 2015 and 2016. Of the 15 aircraft, United will assign its purchase obligations to Mesa with respect to 10 Embraer E175 aircraft at the time of each aircraft’s delivery, subject to certain conditions. Mesa will purchase the remaining five aircraft directly from Embraer; however, United has agreed that United will, under certain conditions, purchase these five aircraft directly from Embraer.

The table below summarizes the Company’s anticipated future payments through the end of the terms of our CPAs, excluding variable pass-through costs such as fuel and landing fees, among others. In addition, the table below summarizes the Company’s scheduled future minimum lease payments under aircraft operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms of more than one year and includes aircraft rent or ownership costs under CPAs, including estimated commitments under the SkyWest CPA amendment for the operation of 18 new Embraer E175 aircraft.


(In millions)	Capacity Purchase Agreements		Aircraft Operating Leases
Last three months of 2015	$	460	$	291
2016		1,836		1,322
2017		1,725		1,292
2018		1,332		1,068
2019		1,103		868
After 2019		5,314		3,095

	$	11,770	$	7,936

Guarantees. United is the guarantor of approximately $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of tax-exempt special facilities revenue bonds and interest thereon. These bonds, issued by various airport municipalities, are payable solely from rentals paid under long-term agreements with the respective governing bodies. The leasing arrangements associated with $1.5 billion of these obligations are accounted for as operating leases with the associated expense recorded on a straight-line basis resulting in ratable accrual of the lease obligation over the expected lease term. The leasing arrangements associated with $295 million of these obligations are accounted for as capital leases. All of these bonds are due between 2015 and 2038.

In the Company’s financing transactions that include loans, the Company typically agrees to reimburse lenders for any reduced returns with respect to the loans due to any change in capital requirements and, in the case of loans in which the interest rate is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, for certain other increased costs that the lenders incur in carrying these loans as a result of any change in law, subject in most cases to obligations of the lenders to take certain limited steps to mitigate the requirement for, or the amount of, such increased costs. At September 30, 2015, the Company had $2.6 billion of floating rate debt and $124 million of fixed rate debt, with remaining terms of up to 12 years, that are subject to these increased cost provisions. In several financing transactions involving loans or leases from non-U.S. entities, with remaining terms of up to 12 years and an aggregate balance of $2.6 billion, the Company bears the risk of any change in tax laws that would subject loan or lease payments thereunder to non-U.S. entities to withholding taxes, subject to customary exclusions.

The Company has agreements with financial institutions that process customer credit card transactions for the sale of air travel and other services. Under certain of the Company’s credit card processing agreements, the financial institutions in certain circumstances have the right to require that the Company maintain a reserve equal to a portion of advance ticket sales that has been processed by that financial institution, but for which the Company has not yet provided the air transportation. Such financial institutions may require additional cash or other collateral reserves to be established or additional withholding of payments related to receivables collected if the Company does not maintain certain minimum levels of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short term investments (collectively, “Unrestricted Liquidity”). The Company’s current level of Unrestricted Liquidity is substantially in excess of these minimum levels.

In September 2015, United amended and extended its Merchant Services Bankcard Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”) and Paymentech LLC. Effective with the amended Merchant Services Bankcard Agreement, the Company’s $25 million restricted cash with JPMorgan was returned to United. In addition, the minimum levels of Unrestricted Liquidity that this financial institution required United to maintain were reduced.

Labor Negotiations. As of September 30, 2015, United had approximately 84,000 active employees, of whom approximately 80% were represented by various labor organizations. We are in the process of negotiating joint collective bargaining agreements with our technicians and flight attendants.

Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Debt

NOTE 9 - DEBT

As of September 30, 2015, a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, principally aircraft, route authorities and loyalty program intangible assets, was pledged under various loan and other agreements. As of September 30, 2015, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants. As of September 30, 2015, United had its entire capacity of $1.35 billion available under the revolving credit facility of the Company’s 2013 Credit and Guaranty Agreement.

4.5% Convertible Notes due 2015. At December 31, 2014, the remaining balance of these notes was $202 million. In January 2015, the holders of substantially all of the remaining $202 million principal amount of the 4.5% Convertible Notes exercised their conversion option resulting in the issuance of 11 million shares of UAL common stock.

6% Notes due 2026. In the first quarter of 2015, UAL used cash to repurchase $18 million par value 6% Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) in market transactions. On April 1, 2015, UAL used cash to redeem, at par, the remaining $303 million balance of the 2026 Notes.

6% Notes due 2028. In the first quarter of 2015, UAL used cash to repurchase $13 million par value 6% Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”) in market transactions. On May 1, 2015, UAL used cash to redeem, at par, the remaining $298 million balance of the 2028 Notes.

In the second quarter of 2015, the Company recorded a nonoperating special charge of $128 million for the extinguishment of the 2026 Notes and the 2028 Notes. The nonoperating special charge is related to the write off of unamortized non-cash debt discounts. See Note 10 of this report for additional information.

EETCs. In August 2014, United created EETC pass-through trusts, each of which issued pass-through certificates. The proceeds of the issuance of the pass-through certificates are used to purchase equipment notes issued by United and secured by its aircraft. The Company records the debt obligation upon issuance of the equipment notes rather than upon the initial issuance of the pass-through certificates. The pass-through certificates represent fractional undivided interests in the respective pass-through trusts and are not obligations of United. The payment obligations under the equipment notes are those of United. Proceeds received from the sale of pass-through certificates are initially held by a depositary in escrow for the benefit of the certificate holders until United issues equipment notes to the trust, which purchases such notes with a portion of the escrowed funds. These escrowed funds are not guaranteed by United and are not reported as debt on our consolidated balance sheet because the proceeds held by the depositary are not United’s assets. Certain details of the pass-through trusts with proceeds received from issuance of debt in 2015 are as follows (in millions, except stated interest rate):


EETC Date	Class	Principal		Final expected distribution date		Stated interest rate		Total debt recorded as of September 30, 2015		Proceeds received from issuance of debt in the nine months ended September 30, 2015		Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods
August 2014	A	$	823		September 2026		3.75%	$	823	$	711	$	—
August 2014	B		238		September 2022		4.625%		238		206		—

		$	1,061					$	1,061	$	917	$	—

In 2015, United borrowed approximately $480 million aggregate principal amount from various financial institutions to finance the purchase of several aircraft delivered in 2015. The notes evidencing these borrowings, which are secured by the related aircraft, have maturity dates ranging from 2025 to 2027 and interest rates comprised of the London Interbank Offered Rate plus a specified margin.

The table below presents contractual principal payments at September 30, 2015 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):


	UAL and United
Last three months of 2015	$	388
2016		1,213
2017		802
2018		1,339
2019		1,767
After 2019		5,687

	$	11,196

Special Items

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Special Items

NOTE 10 - SPECIAL ITEMS

For the three and nine months ended September 30, special items consisted of the following (in millions):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Operating:	2015		2014		2015		2014
Severance and benefits	$	28	$	6	$	103	$	58
Integration-related costs		15		28		47		79
Costs associated with permanently grounding Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft		—		—		—		66
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges		33		9		45		61

Special charges		76		43		195		264
Nonoperating:
Loss on extinguishment of debt and Venezuela currency loss		61		—		195		21
Income tax benefit		—		(3)		—		(4)

Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes		137		40		390		281
Income tax valuation allowance release (Note 4)		(3,218)		—		(3,218)		—

Total special items	$	(3,081)	$	40	$	(2,828)	$	281

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded $28 million and $103 million, respectively, of severance and benefits primarily related to a voluntary early-out program for its flight attendants. In 2014, more than 2,500 flight attendants elected to voluntarily separate from the Company and will receive a severance payment, with a maximum value of $100,000 per participant, based on years of service, with retirement dates through the end of 2016.

Integration-related costs include compensation costs related primarily to systems integration and training for employees.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded $33 million and $45 million, respectively, for losses on the sale of one aircraft, the impairment of several engines held for sale and discontinued internal software projects.

During the third quarter of 2015, the Company recorded a $61 million foreign exchange loss related to its cash holdings in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has maintained currency controls and fixed official exchange rates (i.e. Sistema Complementario de Administracion de Divisas (“SICAD”), and Sistema Marginal de Divisas (“SIMADI”)) for many years. Previously, airlines were permitted to use the more favorable SICAD rate (currently 13.5 Venezuelan bolivars to one U.S. dollar) if repatriating profits and for payments of local goods and services in Venezuela. During 2015, many of the payments for local goods and services have transitioned to utilizing the SIMADI rate (currently 200 Venezuelan bolivars to one U.S. dollar) or have been required to be paid in U.S. dollars. Furthermore, the Venezuelan government has not permitted the exchange and repatriations of local currency since mid-2014. As a result, the Company has decided to change the exchange rate from historical SICAD rates to a combination of SIMADI and SICAD rates based on projections of future cash payments. Including this adjustment, the Company’s resulting cash balance held in Venezuelan bolivars at September 30, 2015 is approximately $15 million.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded $134 million of losses as part of Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net due to the write-off of the unamortized non-cash debt discount related to the extinguishment of the 2026 Notes and the 2028 Notes.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $58 million of severance and benefits primarily related to reductions of management and front-line employees, including from Hopkins International Airport (“Cleveland”), as part of its cost savings initiatives. The Company reduced its average daily departures from Cleveland by over 60 percent during the second quarter of 2014. The Company is currently evaluating its options regarding its long-term contractual commitments at Cleveland. The capacity reductions at Cleveland may result in further special charges, which could be significant, related to our contractual commitments.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $66 million for the permanent grounding of 21 of the Company’s Embraer ERJ 135 regional aircraft under lease through 2018, which included an accrual for remaining lease payments and an amount for maintenance return conditions. The Company decided to permanently ground these 21 Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft as a result of new Embraer E175 regional jet deliveries, the impact of pilot shortages at regional carriers and fuel prices.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $33 million for charges related primarily to the impairment of its flight equipment held for disposal associated with its Boeing 737-300 and 737-500 fleets and incurred losses on sales of aircraft and other assets and other special losses totaling $28 million.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $21 million of losses due to exchange rate changes in Venezuela applicable to funds held in local currency.

Accruals

The accrual balance for severance and benefits was $110 million as of September 30, 2015, compared to $70 million as of September 30, 2014. The severance-related accrual as of September 30, 2015 is expected to be mostly paid through 2015. The following is a reconciliation of severance accrual activity for the period:


	Severance and Benefits
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	109
Accrual		103
Payments		(102)

Balance at September 30, 2015	$	110

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Computation of Earnings Per Share


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings available to common stockholders	$	4,816	$	924	$	6,517	$	1,104

Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		375		370		379		370

Earnings per share, basic	$	12.83	$	2.50	$	17.19	$	2.98

Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings available to common stockholders	$	4,816	$	924	$	6,517	$	1,104
Effect of convertible notes		—		7		—		20

Earnings available to common stockholders including the effect of dilutive securities	$	4,816	$	931	$	6,517	$	1,124

Diluted shares outstanding:
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		375		370		379		370
Effect of convertible notes		—		22		—		24
Effect of employee stock awards		1		1		1		1

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		376		393		380		395

Earnings per share, diluted	$	12.82	$	2.37	$	17.15	$	2.84

Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:
Restricted stock and stock options		—		1		—		1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax

The tables below present the components of the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (“AOCI”) (in millions):


UAL (a)	Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities		Derivative Contracts		Investments and Other		Pension and Other Postretirement Deferred Taxes		Derivative Contracts Deferred Taxes			Total
Balance at June 30, 2015	$	(442)	$	(266)	$	11	$	(115)	$	—		$	(812)
Changes in value		(10)		(181)		(6)		(1)		82			(116)
Amounts reclassified to earnings		8		150		—		(9)		(155)			(6)

Net change		(2)		(31)		(6)		(10)		(73)			(122)

Balance at September 30, 2015	$	(444)	$	(297)	$	5	$	(125)	$	(73)		$	(934)

Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(472)	$	(499)	$	7	$	(115)	$	—	(b)	$	(1,079)
Changes in value		3		(227)		(1)		(1)		82			(144)
Amounts reclassified to earnings		25		429		(1)		(9)		(155)			289

Net change		28		202		(2)		(10)		(73)			145

Balance at September 30, 2015	$	(444)	$	(297)	$	5	$	(125)	$	(73)		$	(934)


UAL (a)	Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities		Derivative Contracts		Investments and Other		Pension and Other Postretirement Deferred Taxes		Derivative Contracts Deferred Taxes			Total
Balance at June 30, 2014	$	660	$	36	$	8	$	(115)	$	—		$	589
Changes in value (c)		(66)		(120)		3		—		—			(183)
Amounts reclassified to earnings (c)		(16)		—		(2)		—		—			(18)

Net change		(82)		(120)		1		—		—			(201)

Balance at September 30, 2014	$	578	$	(84)	$	9	$	(115)	$	—		$	388

Balance at December 31, 2013	$	699	$	11	$	13	$	(115)	$	—		$	608
Changes in value (c)		(71)		(99)		4		—		—			(166)
Amounts reclassified to earnings (c)		(50)		4		(8)		—		—			(54)

Net change		(121)		(95)		(4)		—		—			(220)

Balance at September 30, 2014	$	578	$	(84)	$	9	$	(115)	$	—		$	388


Details about AOCI Components	Amount Reclassified from AOCI to Income								Affected Line Item in the Statements of Consolidated Operations
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings	$	150	$	—	$	429	$	4	Aircraft fuel
Amortization of pension and post-retirement items
Amortization of unrecognized (gains) losses and prior service cost (credit) (d)		8		(16)		25		(50)	Salaries and related costs
Investments and other
Available for sale securities-reclassifications of gains into earnings		—		(2)		(1)		(8)	Miscellaneous, net

(a) UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

(b) Deferred tax balance was offset by the Company’s valuation allowance.

(d) This AOCI component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement costs (see Note 5 of this report for additional information).

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The Company’s net periodic benefit cost includes the following components (in millions):


	Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Three Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Service cost	$	31	$	24	$	5	$	5
Interest cost		50		50		20		22
Expected return on plan assets		(49)		(45)		—		(1)
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		21		3		(13)		(19)
Settlement (gain) loss		1		(1)		—		—

Total	$	54	$	31	$	12	$	7


	Pension Benefits				Other Postretirement Benefits
	Nine Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Service cost	$	93	$	73	$	15	$	14
Interest cost		150		151		61		66
Expected return on plan assets		(147)		(134)		(1)		(2)
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)		65		8		(40)		(58)
Settlement (gain) loss		2		(1)		—		—

Total	$	163	$	97	$	35	$	20

Share-Based Compensation Expense

The table below presents information related to share-based compensation (in millions):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Share-based compensation expense	$	7	$	23	$	40	$	69

	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Unrecognized share-based compensation	$	48	$	62

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis

The table below presents disclosures about the financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the Company’s financial statements (in millions):


	September 30, 2015								December 31, 2014
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	UAL
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,427	$	3,427	$	—	$	—	$	2,002	$	2,002	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments:
Asset-backed securities		673		—		673		—		901		—		901		—
Corporate debt		908		—		908		—		876		—		876		—
Certificates of deposit placed through an account registry service (“CDARS”)		301		—		301		—		256		—		256		—
Auction rate securities		16		—		—		16		26		—		—		26
U.S. government and agency notes		49		—		49		—		68		—		68		—
Other fixed income securities		225		—		225		—		255		—		255		—
Enhanced equipment trust certificates (“EETC”)		26		—		—		26		28		—		—		28
Fuel derivatives liability, net		(312)		—		(312)		—		(717)		—		(717)		—
Foreign currency derivatives asset, net		2		—		2		—		2		—		2		—
Restricted cash		208		208		—		—		320		320		—		—

	United
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,421	$	3,421	$	—	$	—	$	1,996	$	1,996	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments:
Asset-backed securities		673		—		673		—		901		—		901		—
Corporate debt		908		—		908		—		876		—		876		—
CDARS		301		—		301		—		256		—		256		—
Auction rate securities		16		—		—		16		26		—		—		26
U.S. government and agency notes		49		—		49		—		68		—		68		—
Other fixed income securities		225		—		225		—		255		—		255		—
EETC		26		—		—		26		28		—		—		28
Fuel derivatives liability, net		(312)		—		(312)		—		(717)		—		(717)		—
Foreign currency derivatives asset, net		2		—		2		—		2		—		2		—
Restricted cash		208		208		—		—		320		320		—		—
Convertible debt derivative asset		—		—		—		—		712		—		—		712
Convertible debt derivative option liability		—		—		—		—		(511)		—		—		(511)

Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The table below presents the carrying values and estimated fair values of financial instruments not presented in the tables above (in millions):


	Fair Value of Debt by Fair Value Hierarchy Level
	September 30, 2015										December 31, 2014
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value								Carrying Amount		Fair Value
			Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3				Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
UAL debt	$	11,222	$	11,575	$	—	$	8,437	$	3,138	$	11,434	$	12,386	$	—	$	8,568	$	3,818
United debt		11,222		11,575		—		8,437		3,138		11,433		12,386		—		8,568		3,818

Hedging Activities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Description of Derivative Instruments

The Company’s derivatives were reported in its consolidated balance sheets as follows (in millions):


Classification	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
Assets:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables	$	6	$	—
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net		7		—

Total assets		$	13	$	—

Liabilities:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Fuel derivative instruments	$	217	$	450
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		—		27

Total liabilities		$	217	$	477

Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting
Assets:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables	$	4	$	6
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net		—		—

Total assets		$	4	$	6

Liabilities:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Fuel derivative instruments	$	112	$	244
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		—		2

Total liabilities		$	112	$	246

Total derivatives
Assets:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Receivables	$	10	$	6
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other assets: Other, net		7		—

Total assets		$	17	$	6

Liabilities:
Fuel contracts due within one year	Fuel derivative instruments	$	329	$	694
Fuel contracts with maturities greater than one year	Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		—		29

Total liabilities		$	329	$	723

Offsetting Liabilities

The following table shows the potential net fair value positions (including fuel derivatives and related collateral) had we elected to offset. The table reflects offset at the counterparty level (in millions):


	September 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Fuel derivative instruments	$	(238	)	$	(209	)
Other liabilities and deferred credits: Other		—			(30	)

Hedge derivatives liabilities, net	$	(238	)	$	(239	)

Schedule of Losses on Derivative Instruments

The following tables present the impact of derivative instruments and their location within the Company’s unaudited statements of consolidated operations (in millions):

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges


	Amount of Loss Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)						Loss Reclassified from AOCI into Fuel Expense					Amount of Loss Recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net (Ineffective Portion)
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Three Months Ended September 30,					Three Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014		2015		2014
Fuel contracts	$	(181	)	$	(120	)	$	(150	)	$	—	$	—	$	(8	)

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges


	Amount of Loss Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)						Loss Reclassified from AOCI into Fuel Expense						Amount of Loss Recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net (Ineffective Portion)
	Nine Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014			2015		2014
Fuel contracts	$	(227	)	$	(99	)	$	(429	)	$	(4	)	$	—	$	(4	)

Schedule of Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedges Losses

Derivatives not designated for hedge accounting

Fuel contracts


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2015			2014
Amount of loss recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net	$	(67	)	$	(102	)	$	(69	)	$	(103	)

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Schedule of Commitments to Purchase Aircrafts


	(in billions)
Last three months of 2015	$	0.6
2016		3.0
2017		2.3
2018		2.3
2019		3.1
After 2019		10.7

	$	22.0

Summary of Scheduled Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Aircraft Operating Leases and Capacity Purchase Agreements


(In millions)	Capacity Purchase Agreements		Aircraft Operating Leases
Last three months of 2015	$	460	$	291
2016		1,836		1,322
2017		1,725		1,292
2018		1,332		1,068
2019		1,103		868
After 2019		5,314		3,095

	$	11,770	$	7,936

Aircraft Type

Schedule of Commitments to Purchase Aircrafts

As of September 30, 2015, United had firm commitments and options to purchase aircraft from The Boeing Company (“Boeing”), Embraer S.A. (“Embraer”) and Airbus S.A.S. (“Airbus”) presented in the table below:


Aircraft Type	Number of Firm Commitments (a)
Airbus A350-1000		35
Boeing 737NG/737 MAX 9		117
Boeing 777-300ER		10
Boeing 787-8/-9/-10		33
Embraer E175		10
(a) United also has options and purchase rights for additional aircraft.

Debt (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Details of Pass Through Trusts

Certain details of the pass-through trusts with proceeds received from issuance of debt in 2015 are as follows (in millions, except stated interest rate):


EETC Date	Class	Principal		Final expected distribution date		Stated interest rate		Total debt recorded as of September 30, 2015		Proceeds received from issuance of debt in the nine months ended September 30, 2015		Remaining proceeds from issuance of debt to be received in future periods
August 2014	A	$	823		September 2026		3.75%	$	823	$	711	$	—
August 2014	B		238		September 2022		4.625%		238		206		—

		$	1,061					$	1,061	$	917	$	—

Contractual Principal Payments

The table below presents contractual principal payments at September 30, 2015 under then-outstanding long-term debt agreements in each of the next five calendar years (in millions):


	UAL and United
Last three months of 2015	$	388
2016		1,213
2017		802
2018		1,339
2019		1,767
After 2019		5,687

	$	11,196

Components of Special Items

Tabular disclosure of long-debt instruments or arrangements, including identification, terms, features, collateral requirements and other information necessary to a fair presentation. These are debt arrangements that originally required repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the entity, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e),(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21538-112644

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21506-112644

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21521-112644

+ Details

Special Items (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

For the three and nine months ended September 30, special items consisted of the following (in millions):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Operating:	2015		2014		2015		2014
Severance and benefits	$	28	$	6	$	103	$	58
Integration-related costs		15		28		47		79
Costs associated with permanently grounding Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft		—		—		—		66
(Gains) losses on sale of assets and other special charges		33		9		45		61

Special charges		76		43		195		264
Nonoperating:
Loss on extinguishment of debt and Venezuela currency loss		61		—		195		21
Income tax benefit		—		(3)		—		(4)

Total operating and nonoperating special charges, net of income taxes		137		40		390		281
Income tax valuation allowance release (Note 4)		(3,218)		—		(3,218)		—

Total special items	$	(3,081)	$	40	$	(2,828)	$	281

Schedule of Severance Related Accruals

The following is a reconciliation of severance accrual activity for the period:


	Severance and Benefits
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	109
Accrual		103
Payments		(102)

Balance at September 30, 2015	$	110

Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total unamortized debt issuance costs	$ 180
Short-term Investments
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share included in short-term investments	$ 200

Computation of Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings available to common stockholders	$ 4,816	$ 924	$ 6,517	$ 1,104
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	375	370	379	370
Earnings per share, basic	$ 12.83	$ 2.50	$ 17.19	$ 2.98
Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings available to common stockholders	$ 4,816	$ 924	$ 6,517	$ 1,104
Effect of convertible notes		7		20
Earnings available to common stockholders including the effect of dilutive securities	$ 4,816	$ 931	$ 6,517	$ 1,124
Diluted shares outstanding:
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	375	370	379	370
Effect of convertible notes		22		24
Effect of employee stock awards	1	1	1	1
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	376	393	380	395
Earnings per share, diluted	$ 12.82	$ 2.37	$ 17.15	$ 2.84
Restricted Stock And Stock Options
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts		1		1

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 22, 2015	Jul. 21, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Loss Per Share [Line Items]
Share repurchase program authorized amount						$ 3,000,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000
Payments for repurchases of common stock			$ 710,000,000	$ 220,000,000
Share repurchase program remaining authorized amount		$ 2,970,000,000	$ 2,970,000,000
Share repurchase program completion date			Dec. 31, 2017
Open Market Repurchases
Earnings Loss Per Share [Line Items]
Payments for repurchases of common stock		$ 262,000,000	$ 712,000,000
Number of shares repurchased		4.6	11.9
Subsequent Event
Earnings Loss Per Share [Line Items]
Agreement to repurchase through an accelerated share repurchase program					$ 300,000,000
Unsecured Debt \| 4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015
Earnings Loss Per Share [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	$ 202,000,000	$ 202,000,000	$ 202,000,000
Debt instrument stated interest rate	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%
Common stock issued in exchange for convertible notes	11.0		11.0
Debt instrument maturity year	2015
Convertible debt outstanding		$ 0	$ 0

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2015

Sep. 30, 2014

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

^[1]

$ (812)

$ 589

$ (1,079)

$ 608

^[1]

(116)

(183)

^[2]

(144)

(166)

^[2]

^[1]

(6)

(18)

^[2]

289

(54)

^[2]

^[1]

(122)

(201)

145

(220)

Pension and Other Postretirement Liabilities

^[1]

(934)

388

(934)

388

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

^[1]

(442)

660

(472)

699

^[1]

(10)

(66)

^[2]

(71)

^[2]

^[1]

(16)

^[2]

(50)

^[2]

^[1]

(2)

(82)

(121)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

^[1]

(444)

578

(444)

578

Derivative Contracts

^[1]

(266)

(499)

^[1]

(181)

(120)

^[2]

(227)

(99)

^[2]

^[1]

150

429

^[2]

^[1]

(31)

(120)

202

(95)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

^[1]

(297)

(84)

(297)

(84)

Investments and Other

^[1]

^[1]

(6)

^[2]

(1)

^[2]

^[1]

(2)

^[2]

(1)

(8)

^[2]

^[1]

(6)

(2)

(4)

Pension and Other Postretirement Deferred Taxes

^[1]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

^[1]

(115)

^[1]

(1)

^[1]

(9)

^[1]

(10)

Derivative Contracts Deferred Taxes

^[1]

(125)

(115)

(125)

(115)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

^[1]

^[3]

^[1]

^[1]

(155)

^[1]

(73)

Salaries And Related Costs

^[1]

$ (73)

$ 0

$ (73)

$ 0

[1]	UAL and United amounts are substantially the same except for additional gains related to investments and other of $1 million at United for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
[2]	Income tax expense for these items was offset by the Company's valuation allowance.
[3]	Deferred tax balance was offset by the Company's valuation allowance.

Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2015

Sep. 30, 2014

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

Amortization of unrecognized (gains) losses and prior service cost (credit)

^[1]

$ 8

$ (16)

$ 25

$ (50)

Miscellaneous, Net

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

Available for sale securities-reclassifications of gains into earnings

$ (2)

(1)

(8)

Fuel Oil Contract | Cash Flow Hedging | Aircraft Fuel

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]

Fuel contracts-reclassifications of (gains) losses into earnings

$ 150

$ 429

$ 4

[1]	This AOCI component is included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement costs (see Note 5 of this report for additional information).

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (Parenthetical) (Detail) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
United Airlines, Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Additional gains related to investments and other	$ 1

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ (3,210)	$ (4)	$ (3,203)	$ 1
Release of valuation allowance	3,200		3,200
Pre-tax profit	1,606	$ 920	$ 3,314	$ 1,105
Federal statutory income tax rate			35.00%
Scenario Forecast
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective income tax rate					37.00%
Federal
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Release of valuation allowance	3,100		$ 3,100
State
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Release of valuation allowance	$ 100		$ 100
State \| Scenario Forecast
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Release of valuation allowance						$ 82

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 31	$ 24	$ 93	$ 73
Interest cost	50	50	150	151
Expected return on plan assets	(49)	(45)	(147)	(134)
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)	21	3	65	8
Settlement (gain) loss	1	(1)	2	(1)
Total	54	31	163	97
Other Postretirement Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	5	5	15	14
Interest cost	20	22	61	66
Expected return on plan assets		(1)	(1)	(2)
Amortization of unrecognized (gain) loss and prior service cost (credit)	(13)	(19)	(40)	(58)
Total	$ 12	$ 7	$ 35	$ 20

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of pre-tax earnings paid for profit sharing plan	5.00%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of pre-tax earnings paid for profit sharing plan	20.00%
RSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of days used to compute performance period average closing price of restricted stock units	20 days
Share-Based Compensation, award granted	0.3
Share-Based Compensation, vesting period	3 years
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-Based Compensation, award granted	0.2
Share-Based Compensation, vesting period	3 years
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of days used to compute performance period average closing price of restricted stock units	20 days
Share-Based Compensation, vesting period	3 years
Share-Based Compensation, vesting date	Dec. 31, 2017
Vesting Based On ROIC and Pre-Tax Margin \| Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-Based Compensation, award granted	0.6
Pension Benefits
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Employer contribution to tax-qualified defined benefit pension plans \| $	$ 800

Share-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	$ 7	$ 23	$ 40	$ 69
Unrecognized share-based compensation	$ 48		$ 48		$ 62

Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 3,427	$ 2,002
Restricted cash	208	320
United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,421	1,996
Restricted cash	208	320
Asset-backed Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	673	901
Asset-backed Securities \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	673	901
Corporate Debt
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	908	876
Corporate Debt \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	908	876
CDARS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	301	256
CDARS \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	301	256
Auction Rate Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	16	26
Auction Rate Securities \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	16	26
U.S. Government and Agency Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	49	68
U.S. Government and Agency Notes \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	49	68
Other Fixed Income Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	225	255
Other Fixed Income Securities \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	225	255
EETC
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
EETC	26	28
EETC \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
EETC	26	28
Fuel Derivatives Liability, Net
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, net	(312)	(717)
Fuel Derivatives Liability, Net \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, net	(312)	(717)
Foreign Currency Derivatives Asset, Net
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, net	2	2
Foreign Currency Derivatives Asset, Net \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, net	2	2
Convertible Debt Derivative Asset \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Convertible debt derivative asset		712
Convertible Debt Derivative Option Liability \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Convertible debt derivative option liability		(511)
Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,427	2,002
Restricted cash	208	320
Level 1 \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,421	1,996
Restricted cash	208	320
Level 2 \| Asset-backed Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	673	901
Level 2 \| Asset-backed Securities \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	673	901
Level 2 \| Corporate Debt
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	908	876
Level 2 \| Corporate Debt \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	908	876
Level 2 \| CDARS
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	301	256
Level 2 \| CDARS \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	301	256
Level 2 \| U.S. Government and Agency Notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	49	68
Level 2 \| U.S. Government and Agency Notes \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	49	68
Level 2 \| Other Fixed Income Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	225	255
Level 2 \| Other Fixed Income Securities \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	225	255
Level 2 \| Fuel Derivatives Liability, Net
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, net	(312)	(717)
Level 2 \| Fuel Derivatives Liability, Net \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, net	(312)	(717)
Level 2 \| Foreign Currency Derivatives Asset, Net
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, net	2	2
Level 2 \| Foreign Currency Derivatives Asset, Net \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivatives, net	2	2
Level 3 \| Auction Rate Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	16	26
Level 3 \| Auction Rate Securities \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	16	26
Level 3 \| EETC
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
EETC	26	28
Level 3 \| EETC \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
EETC	$ 26	28
Level 3 \| Convertible Debt Derivative Asset \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Convertible debt derivative asset		712
Level 3 \| Convertible Debt Derivative Option Liability \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Convertible debt derivative option liability		$ (511)

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Asset-backed Securities \| Minimum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities		1 year
Asset-backed Securities \| Maximum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities		40 years
Corporate Debt \| Minimum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities		1 year
Corporate Debt \| Maximum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities		7 years
CDARS \| Maximum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities		1 year
U.S. Government and Other Securities \| Minimum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities		1 year
U.S. Government and Other Securities \| Maximum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities remaining maturities		3 years
EETC \| Maximum
Fair Value [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities maturity, year		2019
Unsecured Debt \| 4.5% Convertible Notes Due 2015
Fair Value [Line Items]
Debt instrument stated interest rate	4.50%	4.50%
Debt instrument principal amount	$ 202	$ 202
Common stock issued in exchange for convertible notes	11	11

Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 11,222	$ 11,434
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt	11,222	11,433
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt fair value	11,575	12,386
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure \| Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt fair value	8,437	8,568
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure \| Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt fair value	3,138	3,818
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure \| United Airlines, Inc.
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt fair value	11,575	12,386
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure \| United Airlines, Inc. \| Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt fair value	8,437	8,568
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure \| United Airlines, Inc. \| Level 3
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt fair value	$ 3,138	$ 3,818

Hedging Activities - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) gal	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]
Fuel hedges expiration date	2016-12
Fuel hedge collateral deposits	$ 156	$ 577
Fair value of derivative asset	$ 17	6
Cash Flow Hedging
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]
Percentage of projection of European euro for hedging financial instruments for remainder of 2015	36.00%
Percentage of projection of European euro for hedging financial instruments for 2016	21.00%
Foreign Currency Derivatives Asset, Net
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]
Fair value of derivative asset	$ 2
2015 Projected
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]
Percentage of projection for hedging financial instruments	23.00%
Volume of fuel hedging \| gal	221,000,000
2016 Projected
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]
Percentage of projection for hedging financial instruments	17.00%
Volume of fuel hedging \| gal	652,000,000
Fuel Derivative Instruments
Derivatives And Hedging Activities [Line Items]
Fuel hedge collateral deposits	$ 156	$ 577

Description of Derivative Instruments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, assets	$ 17	$ 6
Fuel contracts, liabilities	329	723
Fuel Derivative Instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, liabilities	329	694
Receivables
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, assets	10	6
Other, net
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, assets	7
Other
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, liabilities		29
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Cash Flow Hedging
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, assets	13
Fuel contracts, liabilities	217	477
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Cash Flow Hedging \| Fuel Derivative Instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, liabilities	217	450
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Cash Flow Hedging \| Receivables
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, assets	6
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Cash Flow Hedging \| Other, net
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, assets	7
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Cash Flow Hedging \| Other
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, liabilities		27
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, assets	4	6
Fuel contracts, liabilities	112	246
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Fuel Derivative Instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, liabilities	112	244
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Receivables
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, assets	$ 4	6
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fuel contracts, liabilities		$ 2

Offsetting Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	$ (238)	$ (239)
Other
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset		(30)
Fuel Derivative Instruments
Offsetting Asset and Liabilities [Line Items]
Potential net fair value positions elected to offset	$ (238)	$ (209)

Schedule of Losses on Derivative Instruments (Detail) - Designated as Hedging Instrument - Cash Flow Hedging - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of Loss Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	$ (181)	$ (120)	$ (227)	$ (99)
Loss Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Fuel Expense) (Effective Portion)	$ (150)		$ (429)	(4)
Amount of Loss Recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net (Ineffective Portion)		$ (8)		$ (4)

Schedule of Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedges Losses (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount of loss recognized in Nonoperating income (expense): Miscellaneous, net	$ (67)	$ (102)	$ (69)	$ (103)

Schedule of Commitments to Purchase Aircrafts (Detail) - United Airlines, Inc. - Capital Addition Purchase Commitments

Sep. 30, 2015

Aircraft

^[1]

Airbus A350-1000 Aircraft

Boeing 737NG/737 MAX 9 Aircraft

Boeing 777-300ER Aircraft

117

Boeing 787-8/-9/-10 Aircraft

Embraer E175 Aircraft