Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Net cash provided by operating activities		$ 3,215	$ 2,817
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits		(3,129)	(2,736)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment and sale-leaseback transactions		671	860
Purchases of short-term investments		(2,878)	(2,590)
Sales of short-term investments		2,524	2,816
Decrease (increase) in restricted short-term investments		(2)	72
Other investing activities		(68)	(5)
Net cash used in investing activities		(2,882)	(1,583)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		3,550	2,149
Payments on long-term debt and finance leases		(2,835)	(2,440)
Deferred financing costs		(50)	(48)
Treasury stock repurchases		(825)	(837)
Dividend payments		(135)	(140)
Other financing activities		(1)	(2)
Net cash used in financing activities		(296)	(1,318)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash		37	(84)
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period		286	398
Cash and restricted cash at end of period	[1]	323	314
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases		854	761
Finance leases		46	0
Settlement of bankruptcy obligations		7	0
Supplemental information:
Interest paid, net		817	801
Income taxes paid		5	16
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Net cash provided by operating activities		2,910	1,295
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits		(3,043)	(2,697)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment and sale-leaseback transactions		671	855
Purchases of short-term investments		(2,878)	(2,582)
Sales of short-term investments		2,524	2,816
Decrease (increase) in restricted short-term investments		(2)	72
Other investing activities		(68)	(5)
Net cash used in investing activities		(2,796)	(1,541)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		2,800	2,149
Payments on long-term debt and finance leases		(2,835)	(1,940)
Deferred financing costs		(41)	(48)
Net cash used in financing activities		(76)	161
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash		38	(85)
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period		276	390
Cash and restricted cash at end of period	[2]	314	305
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases		853	728
Finance leases		46	0
Settlement of bankruptcy obligations		7	0
Supplemental information:
Interest paid, net		772	741
Income taxes paid		$ 5	$ 14

[1] The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash to amounts reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets: Cash $ 312
  $ 303
Restricted cash included in restricted cash and short-term investments 11
  11
Total cash and restricted cash $ 323
  $ 314

[2] The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash to amounts reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets: Cash $ 303
  $ 294
Restricted cash included in restricted cash and short-term investments 11
  11
Total cash and restricted cash $ 314
  $ 305