Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock Options and Warrants - Narrative (Details)

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Stock Options and Warrants - Narrative (Details)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2015
shares
Aug. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
d
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 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 | $     $ (1,877,000) $ (5,253,000) $ 13,866,000 $ 555,000  
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 | $         $ 81,500,000    
Number of warrants authorized for repurchase | $             $ 25,000,000.0
Number of additional warrants authorized for repurchase | $   $ 20,000,000.0          
Amount available for warrants repurchases | $         20,500,000    
Number of common shares into which warrants can be converted 3,045,530            
Common Stock              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Common stock, shares issued in exchange for warrants 1,015,176            
Derivative Liability              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Expense as result of remeasurement | $     $ 1,900,000 $ 5,300,000 $ 13,900,000 $ 600,000  
Public Warrants | Quotes Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Number of warrants     7,083,978   7,083,978   10,148,508
Public Warrants | Derivative Liability              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Warrants outstanding     7,083,978   7,083,978    
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     7,083,978   7,083,978    
Restricted stock units              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Annual vesting percent         25.00%    
Granted (in shares)         408,000    
Warrants outstanding     406,000   406,000   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]              
Employee stock options vesting term         13 months    
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)         379,000    
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     7,084,000   7,084,000   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