<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001173495</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ORBITZ INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ORBZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000100517</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>UAL CORP /DE/</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1200 E. ALGONQUIN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60007</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B-UA Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6733847</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6733847</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Subsidiary</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Immediate</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">None</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The securities are owned directly by United Air Lines, Inc., a subsidiary of the Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 99 - Joint Filer Information</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Paul R. Lovejoy, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2004-11-11
0
0001173495
ORBITZ INC
ORBZ
0000100517
UAL CORP /DE/
1200 E. ALGONQUIN ROAD
ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP
IL
60007
0
0
1
0
Series B-UA Common Stock
2004-11-11
4
S
0
6733847
27.5
D
Class A Common Stock
6733847
0
I
Subsidiary
1 for 1
Immediate
None
The securities are owned directly by United Air Lines, Inc., a subsidiary of the Reporting Person.
Exhibit 99 - Joint Filer Information
/s/Paul R. Lovejoy, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
2004-11-15