Debt - Components of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 24,782	$ 24,001
Less: Total unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs	223	222
Less: Current maturities	3,504	3,213
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	21,055	20,566
Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	22,782	22,751
Secured Debt [Member] \| 2013 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,807	1,825
Variable interest rate	3.80%
Secured Debt [Member] \| 2014 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,215	1,215
Variable interest rate	4.05%
Secured Debt [Member] \| April 2016 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 970	980
Variable interest rate	4.04%
Secured Debt [Member] \| December 2016 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,225	1,225
Variable interest rate	4.03%
Secured Debt [Member] \| Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 11,929	11,648
Average interest rate	4.07%
Secured Debt [Member] \| Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.00%
Secured Debt [Member] \| Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	8.39%
Secured Debt [Member] \| Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 4,882	5,060
Average interest rate	3.74%
Secured Debt [Member] \| Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.16%
Secured Debt [Member] \| Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.31%
Secured Debt [Member] \| Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 754	798
Secured Debt [Member] \| Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.00%
Secured Debt [Member] \| Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	8.00%
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 2,000	1,250
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 5.50% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 750	750
Interest rate	5.50%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 4.625% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 500	500
Interest rate	4.625%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 5.00% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 750	0
Interest rate	5.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less: Total unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs	$ 215	219
Less: Current maturities	2,252	2,466
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	20,286	20,037
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	22,753	22,722
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| 2013 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,807	1,825
Variable interest rate	3.80%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| 2014 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,215	1,215
Variable interest rate	4.05%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| April 2016 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 970	980
Variable interest rate	4.04%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| December 2016 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,225	1,225
Variable interest rate	4.03%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 11,929	11,648
Average interest rate	4.07%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	8.39%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 4,882	5,060
Average interest rate	3.74%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.16%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.31%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member] \| Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 725	$ 769
Interest rate	5.00%

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

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The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time.

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