Revenue Recognition - Significant Categories of Reported Operating Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	$ 10,674	$ 10,353	$ 20,154	$ 19,350
Cargo	261	219	488	410
Other	708	655	1,402	1,287
Total operating revenues	11,643	11,227	22,044	21,047
Passenger travel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	9,877	9,600	18,507	17,795
Loyalty revenue - travel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	797	753	1,647	1,555
Loyalty revenue - marketing services [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Other	582	533	1,200	1,000
Other revenue [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Other	126	122	250	240
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	10,674	10,353	20,154	19,350
Cargo	261	219	488	410
Other	705	652	1,396	1,280
Total operating revenues	11,640	11,224	22,038	21,040
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger travel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	9,877	9,600	18,507	17,795
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Loyalty revenue - travel [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Passenger revenue	797	753	1,647	1,555
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Loyalty revenue - marketing services [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Other	582	533	1,152	1,047
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Other revenue [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Other	$ 123	$ 119	$ 244	$ 233