Share Based Compensation - Restricted Stock Unit Awards (Details) - Restricted stock unit awards - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Number of Shares, Beginning Balance (in shares)	5,187	4,320	4,324
Number of Shares, Granted (in shares)	5,883	3,206	2,194
Number of Shares, Vested and released (in shares)	(2,268)	(2,002)	(1,999)
Number of Shares, Forfeited (in shares)	(920)	(337)	(199)
Number of Shares, Ending balance (in shares)	7,882	5,187	4,320
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 37.01	$ 44.29	$ 46.94
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted (in dollars per share)	22.07	34.00	47.65
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested and released (in dollars per share)	39.46	44.90	44.99
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	29.78	42.55	45.72
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 23.66	$ 37.01	$ 44.29
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 107
Recognition period	1 year
Total fair value of stock-settled during the year	$ 51	$ 68	$ 91
American Airlines, Inc.
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Number of Shares, Beginning Balance (in shares)	5,187	4,320	4,324
Number of Shares, Granted (in shares)	5,883	3,206	2,194
Number of Shares, Vested and released (in shares)	(2,268)	(2,002)	(1,999)
Number of Shares, Forfeited (in shares)	(920)	(337)	(199)
Number of Shares, Ending balance (in shares)	7,882	5,187	4,320
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 37.01	$ 44.29	$ 46.94
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted (in dollars per share)	22.07	34.00	47.65
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested and released (in dollars per share)	39.46	44.90	44.99
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	29.78	42.55	45.72
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 23.66	$ 37.01	$ 44.29
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 107
Recognition period	1 year
Total fair value of stock-settled during the year	$ 51	$ 68	$ 91

Amount of cost not yet recognized for nonvested award under share-based payment arrangement.

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