Debt (Components Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified												9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended						9 Months Ended																		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended											9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Convertible Senior Notes, 7.25, Due in 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] Senior Secured Credit Facility, Due 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Senior Secured Credit Facility, Due 2019 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Facility, Tranche B-1, Citicorp 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Facility, Tranche B-1, Citicorp 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Facility, Tranche B-2, Citicorp 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Credit Facility, Tranche B-2, Citicorp 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates Due from 2014 to 2026 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates Due from 2014 to 2026 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] AAdvantage Miles Advance Purchase [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] AAdvantage Miles Advance Purchase [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Secured Debt [Member] Other Secured Obligations, Fixed Rate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] Other Secured Obligations, Fixed Rate [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Unsecured Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Unsecured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Unsecured Debt [Member] Senior Notes, 5.50, Due in 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Unsecured Debt [Member] Senior Notes, 5.50, Due in 2019 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Unsecured Debt [Member] Senior Notes, 6.125, Due in 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Unsecured Debt [Member] Senior Notes, 6.125, Due in 2018 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Unsecured Debt [Member] Convertible Senior Notes, 7.25, Due in 2014 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Unsecured Debt [Member] Convertible Senior Notes, 7.25, Due in 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Unsecured Debt [Member] Industrial Development Bonds, 6.30, Due in 2023 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Unsecured Debt [Member] Industrial Development Bonds, 6.30, Due in 2023 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Senior Secured Credit Facility, Due 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Senior Secured Credit Facility, Due 2019 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates Due from 2014 to 2026 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates Due from 2014 to 2026 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Secured variable and fixed rate indebtedness due through 2026 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Secured variable and fixed rate indebtedness due through 2026 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Special Facility Revenue Bonds, Due Through 2035 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Special Facility Revenue Bonds, Due Through 2035 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] AAdvantage Miles Advance Purchase [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] AAdvantage Miles Advance Purchase [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Other Secured Obligations, Fixed Rate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Other Secured Obligations, Fixed Rate [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Unsecured Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Unsecured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 AA [Member] Unsecured Debt [Member] Affiliate Unsecured Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AA [Member] Unsecured Debt [Member] Affiliate Unsecured Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	$ 17,150	$ 16,894		$ 15,900	$ 16,343	$ 1,876	$ 1,891	$ 990	$ 1,000	$ 594	$ 600	$ 7,199	$ 6,031	$ 2,909	$ 3,441	$ 1,111	$ 1,466	$ 0	$ 1,000	$ 479	$ 611	$ 742	$ 303	$ 1,250	$ 551	$ 750	$ 0	$ 500	$ 500	$ 0	$ 22	$ 0	$ 29	$ 10,254	$ 10,878	$ 10,227	$ 10,851	$ 1,876	$ 1,891	$ 4,271	$ 3,516			$ 1,778	$ 2,140	$ 1,082	$ 1,393	$ 0		$ 1,000	$ 479	$ 611	$ 741	$ 300	$ 27	$ 27	$ 27	$ 27
Less: Total unamortized debt discount	60	95																																43	69
Less: Current maturities	1,439	1,446																																956	957
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities	$ 15,651	$ 15,353																																$ 9,255	$ 9,852
Effective interest rate percentage - minimum (percent)														1.43%																												1.43%
Effective interest rate percentage - maximum (percent)														8.48%																												8.10%
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate - minimum (percent)												3.70%				5.50%						4.19%																		3.70%			5.50%										4.19%
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate - maximum (percent)												11.00%				8.50%						12.24%																		7.00%			8.50%										12.24%
Variable interest rate percentage (percent)								3.50%		3.00%
Interest rate at period end (percent)						3.75%																																3.75%										7.50%
Stated interest rate percentage (percent)			7.25%															7.50%								5.50%		6.125%		7.25%																			7.50%
Effective interest rate percentage (percent)																				8.30%																															8.30%