Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Common Stock, Stock-Based Awards and Warrants - Warrants Narrative (Details)

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Common Stock, Stock-Based Awards and Warrants - Warrants Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 11, 2014
Aug. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Jan. 31, 2013
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Equity method investment, ownership percentage                           22.00%  
Change in fair value of derivatives     $ 7,533,000 $ 1,191,000 $ 10,926,000 $ 5,865,000 $ (1,928,000) $ (1,877,000) $ 14,789,000 $ 954,000 $ 25,515,000 $ 11,938,000 $ (6,955,000)    
Closing stock price for 20 of 30 days to trigger call of warrants (per share)                     $ 17.50        
Warrants authorized for repurchase, amount                         25,000,000.0    
Additional warrants authorized for repurchase, amount   $ 20,000,000.0                          
Amount available for warrants repurchases                     $ 16,700,000        
Warrant to purchase convertible preferred stock (in shares) 4,227,187           3,957,280         3,957,280      
Warrant exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 11.50                            
Number of shares received in exchange for warrants 0.3333                            
Maximum number of warrants to be exchanged (in shares) 15,000,000                            
Common shares issued in exchange for warrants (in shares) 12,682,755                            
Gain (loss) on warrant exchange                         800,000    
Proceeds from warrant exercises $ 32,100,000                            
Common Stock                              
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Shares issued in period (in shares)                       1,337,760      
Derivative                              
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Change in fair value of derivatives                     $ 23,600,000 $ 11,900,000 $ (7,000,000)    
Public Warrants                              
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Warrants repurchased and retired (in shares)                         403,054    
Proceeds from warrant exercises                         $ 1,400,000    
Public Warrants | Level 1 | Global Eagle Warrants                              
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Warrants (in shares)     6,173,228       6,173,228       6,173,228 6,173,228      
Row 44 Warrants | Common stock warrants                              
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Warrants converted to warrants to purchase Global Eagle common stock (in shares)                             21,062,500
Number of warrants (in shares)                             721,897
Public SPAC Warrants                              
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Number of days                     20 days        
Number of consecutive days                     30 days        
Warrant, redemption by issuer, price (in dollars per share)     $ 0.01               $ 0.01        
Warrant, redemption period (in days)                     30 days        
Estimated proceeds if warrants called                     $ 71,000,000        
Global Eagle Warrants                              
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Warrants converted to warrants to purchase Global Eagle common stock (in shares)     6,173,000       6,173,000       6,173,000 6,173,000      
Global Eagle Warrants | Sponsor Warrants                              
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]                              
Exercise price per warrant (in dollars per share)     $ 11.50               $ 11.50