Postretirement Plans (Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 3	$ 3	$ 2
Interest cost	1,988	2,455	2,925
Expected return on plan assets	(3,848)	(3,756)	(3,863)
Amortization of prior service credits	(80)	(80)	(79)
Recognized net actuarial loss/(gain)	1,219	1,032	643
Settlement/curtailment loss/(gain)	193	9
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost	(525)	(337)	(372)
Other Postretirement Benefits Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	87	89	77
Interest cost	97	130	196
Expected return on plan assets	(7)	(9)	(8)
Amortization of prior service credits	(35)	(38)	(35)
Recognized net actuarial loss/(gain)	(56)	(63)	(46)
Settlement/curtailment loss/(gain)		(4)
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost	86	105	184
BA_CompanyPensionPlan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlement/curtailment loss/(gain)	193
Operating Income (Loss) [Member] | Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost included in Loss before income taxes	(3)	(3)	(313)
Operating Income (Loss) [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost included in Loss before income taxes	(90)	(91)	(88)
Other Income [Member] | Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost included in Loss before income taxes	(528)	(340)	(374)
Other Income [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost included in Loss before income taxes	(1)	(16)	(107)
Operating Income (Loss) Before Taxes [Member] | Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost included in Loss before income taxes	(525)	(337)	(61)
Operating Income (Loss) Before Taxes [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost included in Loss before income taxes	$ (89)	$ (107)	$ (195)