<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-15</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001020265</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SABRE HOLDINGS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182421</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STOW JOHN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; Pres. Sabre Travel Netwo</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Restricted Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-15</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>104.1148</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>20.56</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>40440.4373</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Class A Common  Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-15</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5.1857</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>23.06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>40445.623</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects automatic reinvestment of a cash dividend on shares of restricted stock held as of April 30, 2003, the record date for such dividend, pursuant to terms and conditions of the Sabre Holdings Corporation Amended and Restated 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The deemed purchase price for such additional shares is the fair market value of shares of Sabre Holdings' Class A Common Stock on the record date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects voluntary reinvestment of a cash dividend on shares of Sabre Holdings' Class A Common Stock held as of April 30, 2003, the record date for such dividend, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreement governing such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reflects the open market purchase price on the payment date for the dividend.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Includes 30,684.1148 restricted shares and 1,713.5082 shares purchased through the Sabre Holdings Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  Does not include 177 shares held indirectly by Reporting Person's wife.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John S. Stow by James F. Brashear, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

