Quarterly Financial Data - Summarized Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 11,313	$ 11,911	$ 11,960	$ 10,584	$ 10,938	$ 11,559	$ 11,643	$ 10,401	$ 45,768	$ 44,541	$ 42,622
Operating expenses	10,584	11,103	10,807	10,209	10,367	10,874	10,639	10,005	42,703	41,885	38,391
Operating income	729	808	1,153	375	571	685	1,004	396	3,065	2,656	4,231
Net income	$ 414	$ 425	$ 662	$ 185	$ 325	$ 372	$ 556	$ 159	$ 1,686	$ 1,412	$ 1,282
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.95	$ 0.96	$ 1.49	$ 0.41	$ 0.71	$ 0.81	$ 1.20	$ 0.34	$ 3.80	$ 3.04	$ 2.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.95	$ 0.96	$ 1.49	$ 0.41	$ 0.70	$ 0.81	$ 1.20	$ 0.34	$ 3.79	$ 3.03	$ 2.61
Shares used for computation:
Basic (in shares)	434,578	441,915	445,008	451,951	460,589	460,526	463,533	472,297	443,363	464,236	489,164
Diluted (in shares)	435,659	442,401	445,587	453,429	461,915	461,507	464,618	474,598	444,269	465,660	491,692
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 11,312	$ 11,910	$ 11,958	$ 10,581	$ 10,936	$ 11,556	$ 11,640	$ 10,398	$ 45,761	$ 44,530	$ 42,610
Operating expenses	10,565	11,082	10,831	10,236	10,344	10,850	10,626	9,986	42,714	41,807	38,405
Operating income	747	828	1,127	345	592	706	1,014	412	3,047	2,723	4,205
Net income	$ 520	$ 508	$ 714	$ 230	$ 407	$ 433	$ 609	$ 209	$ 1,972	$ 1,658	$ 1,285