Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax	$ (1,218)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, tax	(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax	6
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	5
Ending balance, tax	(1,213)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax	(5,896)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax	3
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(16)	$ (16)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(13)	(18)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,909)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(4,673)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	(22)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(22)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,695)
Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(5)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax	4
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	4
Ending balance, before tax	(1)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax	(1,329)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, tax	(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax	6
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	5
Ending balance, tax	(1,324)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax	(5,992)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax	3
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(16)	(16)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(13)	$ (18)
Ending balance, net of tax	(6,005)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(4,658)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	(22)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(22)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,680)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(5)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax	4
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	4
Ending balance, before tax	$ (1)