Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax			$ (630)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax			10
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax			10
Ending balance, tax	$ (620)		(620)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax			(5,154)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(17)	$ (15)	(33)	$ (29)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(15)	(15)	(33)	(29)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,187)		(5,187)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(4,523)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			(43)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(43)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,566)		(4,566)
Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			0
Ending balance, before tax	(1)		(1)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax			(742)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax			10
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax			10
Ending balance, tax	(732)		(732)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax			(5,251)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(17)	(15)	(33)	(29)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(15)	$ (15)	(33)	$ (29)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,284)		(5,284)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(4,508)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			(43)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(43)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,551)		(4,551)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			0
Ending balance, before tax	$ (1)		$ (1)