Regional Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	$ 453	$ 1,989	$ 2,065	$ 5,710
Salaries, wages and benefits	2,705	3,219	8,384	9,509
Maintenance, materials and repairs	337	610	1,253	1,745
Other rent and landing fees	367	530	1,149	1,568
Aircraft rent	336	335	1,004	996
Selling expenses	70	424	418	1,194
Depreciation and amortization	498	499	1,557	1,469
Special items, net	(519)	234	(966)	493
Other	659	1,336	2,404	3,859
Total regional expenses	914	1,933	3,638	5,582
American Airlines, Inc.
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	453	1,989	2,065	5,710
Salaries, wages and benefits	2,704	3,217	8,380	9,503
Maintenance, materials and repairs	337	610	1,253	1,745
Other rent and landing fees	367	530	1,149	1,568
Aircraft rent	336	335	1,004	996
Selling expenses	70	424	418	1,194
Depreciation and amortization	498	499	1,557	1,469
Special items, net	(523)	228	(995)	487
Other	659	1,337	2,425	3,860
Total regional expenses	852	1,913	3,500	5,616
Regional Carrier
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	158	485	638	1,395
Salaries, wages and benefits	379	461	1,218	1,310
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	233	354	765	1,046
Maintenance, materials and repairs	72	108	244	303
Other rent and landing fees	112	167	369	495
Aircraft rent	3	8	11	23
Selling expenses	27	102	121	299
Depreciation and amortization	79	84	247	246
Special items, net	(224)	6	(309)	6
Other	75	158	334	459
Total regional expenses	914	1,933	3,638	5,582
Regional Carrier \| American Airlines, Inc.
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	158	485	638	1,395
Salaries, wages and benefits	59	76	214	241
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	622	900	2,105	2,665
Maintenance, materials and repairs	(4)	14	2	23
Other rent and landing fees	106	159	347	472
Aircraft rent	3	8	11	23
Selling expenses	27	102	121	299
Depreciation and amortization	66	72	207	210
Special items, net	(228)	0	(338)	0
Other	43	97	193	288
Total regional expenses	852	1,913	3,500	5,616
Regional Carrier \| Republic Airline Inc.
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	102	150	313	442
Regional Carrier \| Republic Airline Inc. \| American Airlines, Inc.
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	$ 102	$ 150	$ 313	$ 442
Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. \| American Airlines, Inc.
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Ownership percentage	25.00%		25.00%

Capacity Purchases

No definition available.

Name:	aal_CapacityPurchases
Namespace Prefix:	aal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Regional Expenses [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aal_RegionalExpensesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	aal_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Restructuring And Other, Net

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aal_RestructuringAndOtherNet
Namespace Prefix:	aal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maintenance costs incurred and directly related to services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. Includes the cost of inspections and repairs, materials and routine maintenance costs for all aircraft and engines.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AircraftMaintenanceMaterialsAndRepairs
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expenses incurred related to the lease of aircraft from outside third parties that are used in the entity's business operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AircraftRental
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Costs incurred related to air services provided by third-party transportation companies, including regional affiliates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AirlineCapacityPurchaseArrangements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fuel costs incurred that are directly related to goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FuelCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense for salary, wage, profit sharing; incentive and equity-based compensation; and other employee benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Direct costs incurred at airports in which the entity conducts flight operations. The costs primarily consist of fees paid to the airport authority for takeoff and landing, gate space and facilities, allocations of common space such as security and other terminal costs and fuel storage facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LandingFeesAndOtherRentals
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of other operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate total amount of expenses directly related to the marketing or selling of products or services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_RegionalCarrierMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=aal_RepublicAirlineIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=aal_RepublicAirwaysHoldingsInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: