Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax			$ (1,218)				$ (1,218)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, tax							(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax							15
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax							14
Ending balance, tax	$ (1,204)						(1,204)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax			(5,896)				(5,896)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax							2
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(18)			$ (17)			(52)	$ (49)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(19)	$ (18)	(13)	(17)	$ (15)	$ (18)	(50)	(49)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,946)						(5,946)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(4,673)				(4,673)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax							(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax							(67)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax							(68)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,741)						(4,741)
Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(5)				(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)						(1)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax			(1,329)				(1,329)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, tax							(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax							15
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax							14
Ending balance, tax	(1,315)						(1,315)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax			(5,992)				(5,992)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax							2
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(18)			(17)			(52)	(50)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(19)	$ (18)	(13)	$ (17)	$ (15)	$ (18)	(50)	$ (50)
Ending balance, net of tax	(6,042)						(6,042)
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)				(4,658)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax							(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax							(67)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax							(68)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,726)						(4,726)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			$ (5)				(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)						$ (1)