Special Items, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Fleet impairment	$ 201	$ 0	$ 201	$ 0
Fleet restructuring expenses	72	101	232	327
Litigation reserve adjustments	(53)	0	(53)	45
Merger integration expenses	29	68	106	188
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net	(22)	17	(18)	(39)
Severance expenses	0	20	7	20
Intangible asset impairment	0	0	0	26
Labor contract expenses	0	0	0	13
Other operating charges, net	1	1	12	35
Mainline operating special items, net	228	207	487	615
Regional operating special items, net	6	2	6	1
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity and other investments, net	45	15	37	82
Debt refinancing and extinguishment charges	7	0	14	13
Other nonoperating income, net	(8)	0	(8)	0
Nonoperating special items, net	44	15	43	95
Income tax special items, net	0	0	0	40
Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Change in deferred tax assets valuation allowance				22
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other tax charges				18
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Fleet impairment	201	0	201	0
Fleet restructuring expenses	72	101	232	327
Litigation reserve adjustments	(53)	0	(53)	45
Merger integration expenses	29	68	106	188
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net	(22)	17	(18)	(39)
Severance expenses	0	20	7	20
Intangible asset impairment	0	0	0	26
Labor contract expenses	0	0	0	13
Other operating charges, net	1	1	12	35
Mainline operating special items, net	228	207	487	615
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity and other investments, net	45	15	37	82
Debt refinancing and extinguishment charges	7	0	14	13
Nonoperating special items, net	52	15	51	95
Income tax special items, net	$ 0	0	0	$ 48
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Change in deferred tax assets valuation allowance			$ 30
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other tax charges		$ 18