Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock Options and Warrants - Narrative (Details)

v3.2.0.727
Stock Options and Warrants - Narrative (Details)
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Jun. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2015
USD ($)
d
$ / shares
shares
Jun. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Number of shares authorized 9,000,000   9,000,000    
Expense as result of remeasurement | $ $ (14,789,000) $ (21,326,000) $ (15,743,000) $ (5,808,000)  
Closing stock price for 20 or 30 days to trigger call of warrants (usd per share) | $ / shares     $ 17.50    
Number of days | d     20    
Number of consecutive days     30 days    
Estimated proceeds if warrants called | $     $ 116,500,000    
Number of warrants authorized for repurchase | $         $ 25,000,000.0
Amount available for warrants repurchases | $     13,200,000    
Derivative Liability          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Expense as result of remeasurement | $ $ (14,800,000) $ (21,300,000) $ 15,700,000 $ 5,800,000  
Public Warrants | Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Number of warrants 10,129,508   10,129,508   10,148,508
Public Warrants | Derivative Liability          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Warrants outstanding 10,129,508   10,129,508    
Public Warrants | Global Eagle Warrants | Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Number of warrants 10,129,508   10,129,508    
Restricted stock units          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Annual vesting percent     25.00%    
Granted (in shares)     207,000    
Warrants outstanding 248,000   248,000   59,000
Restricted stock units | Performance Benchmark Three          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Shares issued     77,687    
Restricted stock units | Board Member          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Granted (in shares)     29,000    
Restricted stock units | Certain Employees          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Employee stock option term     4 years    
Granted (in shares)     178,000    
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Stock options          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Employee stock option term     5 years    
Employee stock options vesting term     3 years    
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Stock options | Executive Officer          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Employee stock option term     5 years    
Employee stock options vesting term     4 years    
Annual vesting percent     25.00%    
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Stock options | Issued prior to 2015 | First Anniversary of Grant          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Annual vesting percent     25.00%    
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Stock options | Issued prior to 2015 | After First Anniversary of Grant          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Annual vesting percent     2.78%    
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Stock options | Issued prior to 2015 | Board Member          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Employee stock option term     5 years    
Employee stock options vesting term     2 years    
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Stock options | Issued in 2015 Awards | Board Member          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Employee stock option term     5 years    
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Stock options | Issued in 2015 Awards | Board Member | 2015 Service Period          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Annual vesting percent     25.00%    
Global Eagle Warrants          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Warrants outstanding 10,130,000   10,130,000   10,149,000
Global Eagle Warrants | Sponsor Warrants          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Warrant exercise price (usd per share) | $ / shares $ 11.50   $ 11.50