Debt - Components of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 32,983			$ 23,856
Less: Total unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs	780			211
Less: Current maturities	2,610			2,749
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	29,593			20,896
Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	28,968			22,606
Secured Debt | 2013 Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,788			1,807
Variable interest rate	1.89%
Secured Debt | 2013 Credit Facilities | Other Short-term Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 750			0
Variable interest rate	2.16%
Secured Debt | 2014 Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,220			1,202
Variable interest rate	1.90%
Secured Debt | 2014 Credit Facilities | Other Short-term Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,643			0
Variable interest rate	2.16%
Secured Debt | April 2016 Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 960			970
Variable interest rate	2.15%
Secured Debt | April 2016 Credit Facilities | Other Short-term Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 450			0
Variable interest rate	2.16%
Secured Debt | December 2016 Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,213			1,213
Variable interest rate	2.15%
Secured Debt | 11.75% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 2,500			0
Fixed interest rate per annum	11.75%
Secured Debt | Treasury Loan Agreement, CARES Act | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 550			0
Variable interest rate	3.73%
Secured Debt | 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, IP Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,000			0
Fixed interest rate per annum	10.75%
Secured Debt | 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, LGA/DCA Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 200			0
Fixed interest rate per annum	10.75%
Secured Debt | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 11,146			11,933
Average interest rate	3.99%
Secured Debt | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	3.00%
Secured Debt | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	8.39%
Secured Debt | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 4,484			4,727
Average interest rate	1.88%
Secured Debt | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	1.33%
Secured Debt | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	5.83%
Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,064			754
Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	5.00%
Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	8.00%
Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 4,015			1,250
Unsecured Debt | Payroll Support Program Promissory Note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	1,765			0
Unsecured Debt | 6.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,000			0
Fixed interest rate per annum	6.50%
Unsecured Debt | 5.000% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 750			750
Fixed interest rate per annum	5.00%
Unsecured Debt | 3.75% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt			$ 500	0
Unsecured Debt | 4.625% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 0			$ 500
Fixed interest rate per annum				4.625%
American Airlines, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less: Total unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs	337			$ 205
Less: Current maturities	2,612			2,246
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	$ 25,995			20,126
American Airlines, Inc. | Treasury Loan Agreement, CARES Act | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate	3.73%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 28,944			22,577
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 2013 Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,788			1,807
Variable interest rate	1.89%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 2013 Credit Facilities | Other Short-term Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 750			0
Variable interest rate	2.16%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 2014 Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,220			1,202
Variable interest rate	1.90%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 2014 Credit Facilities | Other Short-term Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,643			0
Variable interest rate	2.16%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | April 2016 Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 960			970
Variable interest rate	2.15%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | April 2016 Credit Facilities | Other Short-term Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 450			0
Variable interest rate	2.16%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | December 2016 Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,213			1,213
Variable interest rate	2.15%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 11.75% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 2,500			0
Fixed interest rate per annum	11.75%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Treasury Loan Agreement, CARES Act | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 550			0
Variable interest rate	3.73%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, IP Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,000			0
Fixed interest rate per annum	10.75%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 10.75% Senior Secured Notes, LGA/DCA Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 200			0
Fixed interest rate per annum	10.75%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 11,146			11,933
Average interest rate	3.99%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	3.00%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	8.39%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 4,484			4,727
Average interest rate	1.88%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	1.33%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	5.83%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,040			$ 725
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	5.00%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	5.38%
American Airlines, Inc. | Unsecured Debt | 6.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum	6.50%
LIBOR | American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 2013 Credit Facilities | Other Short-term Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum		2.00%