Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 11,911	$ 11,559	$ 34,455	$ 33,603
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	1,989	2,234	5,710	6,100
Salaries, wages and benefits	3,219	3,131	9,509	9,243
Regional expenses	1,933	1,833	5,582	5,323
Maintenance, materials and repairs	610	526	1,745	1,499
Other rent and landing fees	530	502	1,568	1,463
Aircraft rent	335	318	996	939
Selling expenses	424	395	1,194	1,136
Depreciation and amortization	499	468	1,469	1,366
Special items, net	228	207	487	615
Other	1,336	1,260	3,859	3,834
Total operating expenses	11,103	10,874	32,119	31,518
Operating income	808	685	2,336	2,085
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	34	29	103	84
Interest expense, net	(284)	(262)	(830)	(788)
Other income (expense), net	(1)	44	76	108
Total nonoperating expense, net	(251)	(189)	(651)	(596)
Income before income taxes	557	496	1,685	1,489
Income tax provision	132	124	413	401
Net income	$ 425	$ 372	$ 1,272	$ 1,088
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.81	$ 2.85	$ 2.34
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.81	$ 2.84	$ 2.33
Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	441,915	460,526	446,291	465,452
Diluted (in shares)	442,401	461,507	447,139	466,908
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.30	$ 0.30
Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 10,995	$ 10,561	$ 31,663	$ 30,714
Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	208	260	647	748
Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	708	738	2,145	2,141
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	11,910	11,556	34,449	33,594
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	1,989	2,234	5,710	6,100
Salaries, wages and benefits	3,217	3,129	9,503	9,234
Regional expenses	1,913	1,810	5,616	5,275
Maintenance, materials and repairs	610	526	1,745	1,499
Other rent and landing fees	530	502	1,568	1,463
Aircraft rent	335	318	996	939
Selling expenses	424	395	1,194	1,136
Depreciation and amortization	499	468	1,469	1,366
Special items, net	228	207	487	615
Other	1,337	1,261	3,860	3,835
Total operating expenses	11,082	10,850	32,148	31,462
Operating income	828	706	2,301	2,132
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	131	85	389	240
Interest expense, net	(281)	(259)	(835)	(764)
Other income (expense), net	(10)	45	69	109
Total nonoperating expense, net	(160)	(129)	(377)	(415)
Income before income taxes	668	577	1,924	1,717
Income tax provision	160	144	472	466
Net income	508	433	1,452	1,251
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	10,995	10,561	31,663	30,714
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	208	260	647	748
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 707	$ 735	$ 2,139	$ 2,132