Revenue Recognition - Significant Categories of Reported Operating Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	$ 9,480	$ 8,997
Cargo	227	191
Other	694	632
Total operating revenues	10,401	9,820
Passenger travel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	8,630	8,195
Loyalty revenue - travel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	850	802
Loyalty revenue - marketing services [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Other	570	514
Other revenue [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Other	124	118
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	9,480	8,997
Cargo	227	191
Other	691	629
Total operating revenues	10,398	9,817
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger travel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	8,630	8,195
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Loyalty revenue - travel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	850	802
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Loyalty revenue - marketing services [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Other	570	514
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Other revenue [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Other	$ 121	$ 115