Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, employee in Thousands		1 Months Ended			2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended									8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 15, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jan. 31, 2021 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) shares	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	May 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 28, 2021 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) shares	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) component employee reporting_unit $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 22, 2020 $ / shares	Oct. 21, 2020 USD ($) shares	Sep. 25, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares	Jul. 30, 2020 shares	May 29, 2020 shares	Apr. 20, 2020 shares	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 0.01				$ 0.01				$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Decrease in revenue compared to prior year period (in percentage)																62.00%
Decrease in flying compared to prior year period (in percentage)																50.00%
Decrease in domestic capacity (in percentage)																(0.41)
Decrease in international capacity (in percentage)																(0.68)
Estimated reduction in operating and capital expenditures																$ 17,000,000,000
Estimated reduction in non-aircraft capital expenditures																$ 700,000,000
Number of positions eliminated (in percentage)																30.00%
Number of team members opting for early retirement or long-term paid leave (more than) | employee																20
Available liquidity							$ 14,300,000,000								$ 14,300,000,000	$ 14,300,000,000
Unrestricted cash and short-term investments							6,900,000,000								6,900,000,000	6,900,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity							7,396,000,000								7,396,000,000	7,396,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt																11,780,000,000	$ 3,960,000,000	$ 2,354,000,000
Increase in liquidity from deferred payroll taxes under the CARES Act																350,000,000
Covenant terms, minimum aggregate liquidity required							2,000,000,000.0								2,000,000,000.0	2,000,000,000.0
Adjustments to additional paid in capital, net of tax																(320,000,000)
Retained earnings (deficit)							(6,664,000,000)				$ 2,264,000,000				(6,664,000,000)	$ (6,664,000,000)	2,264,000,000
Consolidated reporting unit | reporting_unit																1
Goodwill							4,091,000,000				4,091,000,000				4,091,000,000	$ 4,091,000,000	4,091,000,000
Amortization expense																41,000,000	41,000,000	41,000,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets							1,800,000,000				1,800,000,000				$ 1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000
Operating revenues							$ 4,027,000,000	$ 3,173,000,000	$ 1,622,000,000	$ 8,515,000,000	11,313,000,000	$ 11,911,000,000	$ 11,960,000,000	$ 10,584,000,000		$ 17,337,000,000	45,768,000,000	44,541,000,000
Contract receivables settlement duration																7 days
Advertising expense																$ 50,000,000	129,000,000	128,000,000
Foreign currency gains (losses)																$ (24,000,000)	(32,000,000)	(55,000,000)
Public Stock Offering
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock (in shares) | shares																129,490,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock																$ 1,700,000,000
Common Stock, 2020 Public Offering One
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock (in shares) | shares																85,200,000
Common shares, stock price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 13.50								$ 13.50	$ 13.50
Common Stock, 2020 Public Offering Two
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock (in shares) | shares																44,300,000
Common shares, stock price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							12.975								12.975	$ 12.975
At-the-market Offering
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock (in shares) | shares																68,561,487
Common shares, stock price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 12.87								$ 12.87	$ 12.87				$ 12.87
Proceeds from issuance of common stock																$ 869,000,000
At-the-market Offering | Subsequent Event
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock (in shares) | shares						68,600,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock						$ 869,000,000
US Department Of The Treasury, CARES Act, Payroll Support Program One
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proceeds from government assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act															$ 6,000,000,000.0
Financial assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act																4,200,000,000
US Department Of The Treasury, CARES Act, Payroll Support Program Two | Subsequent Event
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proceeds from government assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act	$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,500,000,000
Total financial assistance through PSP2 (at least)	3,000,000,000.0	3,000,000,000.0
Line of Credit
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity							$ 6,950,000,000								6,950,000,000	6,950,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity							446,000,000								446,000,000	446,000,000
Treasury Loan Agreement | Line of Credit
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity							7,000,000,000.0								7,000,000,000.0	7,000,000,000.0
Proceeds from lines of credit																550,000,000
2014 Credit  Facilities | Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity							1,643,000,000								1,643,000,000	1,643,000,000
Senior Notes 3.75% Matures 2025 | Unsecured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued							$ 500,000,000								$ 500,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Fixed interest rate per annum							3.75%								3.75%	3.75%
2013 Credit  Facilities | Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity							$ 750,000,000								$ 750,000,000	$ 750,000,000
April 2016 Credit Facilities | Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity							450,000,000								450,000,000	450,000,000
Senior Notes 6.50% Due 2025 | Senior Notes
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued			$ 1,000,000,000.0				$ 1,000,000,000		$ 1,000,000,000.0						$ 1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Fixed interest rate per annum			6.50%						6.50%
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			$ 970,000,000
Additional paid-in capital																415,000,000
Senior Notes 6.50% Due 2025 | Senior Notes | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Additional paid-in capital																415,000,000
Adjustments to additional paid in capital, net of tax																$ 320,000,000
Senior Notes 6.50% Due 2025 | Senior Notes | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment | Subsequent Event
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Retained earnings (deficit)																			$ 19,000,000
Reduction of debt discount																			$ 389,000,000
Senior Notes 6.50% Due 2025 | Unsecured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							6.50%								6.50%	6.50%
Senior Notes 11.75% Due 2025 | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							11.75%								11.75%	11.75%
PSP1, CAREs Act
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued							$ 1,800,000,000								$ 1,800,000,000	$ 1,800,000,000
Number of warrants authorized (in shares) | shares							14,100,000								14,100,000	14,100,000
Fair value of warrants							$ 63,000,000								$ 63,000,000	$ 63,000,000
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 12.51								$ 12.51	$ 12.51
PSP1, CAREs Act | Warrants Tranche 1
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of warrants issued, up to (in shares) | shares																									6,700,000
PSP1, CAREs Act | Warrants Tranche 2
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of warrants issued, up to (in shares) | shares																								2,800,000
PSP1, CAREs Act | Warrants Tranche 3
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of warrants issued, up to (in shares) | shares			2,800,000						2,800,000
PSP1, CAREs Act | Warrants Tranche 4
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of warrants issued, up to (in shares) | shares																							1,400,000
PSP1, CAREs Act | Warrants Tranche 5
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of warrants issued, up to (in shares) | shares								400,000
PSP2, CAREs Act | Subsequent Event
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued	$ 433,000,000	$ 433,000,000
Number of warrants authorized (in shares) | shares	5,700,000	2,800,000
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 15.66
Class of warrant, additional warrants, percentage of borrowing (in percentage)	0.10
Treasury Loan Restatement Agreement, CARES Act | Line of Credit
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																					$ 7,500,000,000
Issuance of Treasury Loan Warrants (see Note 1(b))
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of warrants authorized (in shares) | shares																					60,000,000.0
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares																						$ 12.51
Number of warrants issued, up to (in shares) | shares							4,400,000								4,400,000	4,400,000
Class of warrant, additional warrants, percentage of borrowing (in percentage)							0.10								0.10	0.10
Minimum
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Performance obligation term																1 year
Minimum | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							5.00%								5.00%	5.00%
Minimum | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							1.32%								1.32%	1.32%
Maximum
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Performance obligation term																7 years
Maximum | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							8.00%								8.00%	8.00%
Maximum | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							5.83%								5.83%	5.83%
Loyalty program liability
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Payment term																30 days
Number of revenue components | component																2
Recognition of revenue																$ 1,232,000,000
Loyalty revenue - marketing services
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Operating revenues																$ 1,825,000,000	2,361,000,000	2,352,000,000
Air traffic liability
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Performance obligation term																1 year
Recognition of revenue																$ 2,800,000,000
Contract with customer, liability, travel credits							$ 2,600,000,000								$ 2,600,000,000	$ 2,600,000,000
Contract with customer, liability, updated revenue recognition period																12 months
American Airlines, Inc.
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 1.00								$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Proceeds from asset sales																$ 351,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt																8,959,000,000	3,210,000,000	2,354,000,000
Increase in liquidity from deferred payroll taxes under the CARES Act																325,000,000
Retained earnings (deficit)							$ (5,508,000,000)				2,942,000,000				$ (5,508,000,000)	$ (5,508,000,000)	2,942,000,000
Consolidated reporting unit | reporting_unit																1
Goodwill							4,091,000,000				4,091,000,000				4,091,000,000	$ 4,091,000,000	4,091,000,000
Amortization expense																41,000,000	41,000,000	41,000,000
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)																0
Indefinite lived intangible assets							1,800,000,000				1,800,000,000				1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000
Operating revenues							4,027,000,000	$ 3,172,000,000	$ 1,622,000,000	8,514,000,000	$ 11,312,000,000	$ 11,910,000,000	$ 11,958,000,000	$ 10,581,000,000		$ 17,335,000,000	45,761,000,000	44,530,000,000
Contract receivables settlement duration																7 days
Advertising expense																$ 50,000,000	129,000,000	128,000,000
Foreign currency gains (losses)																(24,000,000)	(32,000,000)	(54,000,000)
American Airlines, Inc. | Line of Credit
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity							6,950,000,000								6,950,000,000	6,950,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity							7,396,000,000								7,396,000,000	7,396,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Treasury Loan Agreement | Line of Credit
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity							7,500,000,000								7,500,000,000	7,500,000,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																					$ 7,500,000,000	$ 5,500,000,000
Proceeds from lines of credit																550,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | 2014 Credit  Facilities | Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity							$ 0								$ 0	$ 0
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																										$ 1,200,000,000	$ 1,600,000,000	$ 1,500,000,000
Proceeds from lines of credit					$ 1,600,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity										$ 1,000,000,000.0
American Airlines, Inc. | Senior Notes 3.75% Matures 2025 | Unsecured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							3.75%								3.75%	3.75%
American Airlines, Inc. | 2013 Credit  Facilities | Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				$ 0	$ 0		$ 0								$ 0	$ 0
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																											750,000,000	1,000,000,000.0
Proceeds from lines of credit				750,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | April 2016 Credit Facilities | Secured Debt | Revolving Credit Facility
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				0			$ 0								$ 0	$ 0
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																											$ 450,000,000	$ 300,000,000
Proceeds from lines of credit				$ 450,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Senior Notes 6.50% Due 2025 | Senior Notes
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							6.50%								6.50%	6.50%
American Airlines, Inc. | Senior Notes 6.50% Due 2025 | Unsecured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							6.50%								6.50%	6.50%
American Airlines, Inc. | Senior Notes 11.75% Due 2025 | Senior Notes
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued			$ 2,500,000,000						$ 2,500,000,000
Fixed interest rate per annum			11.75%						11.75%
American Airlines, Inc. | Senior Notes 11.75% Due 2025 | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							11.75%								11.75%	11.75%
American Airlines, Inc. | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Senior Notes
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued			$ 360,000,000						$ 360,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt			47,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			$ 353,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | 10.75% Senior Secured Notes | Senior Notes
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued							$ 1,200,000,000								$ 1,200,000,000	$ 1,200,000,000
Fixed interest rate per annum																						10.75%
American Airlines, Inc. | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates and Other Equipment Financing | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt																600,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Repayments of debt																17,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable Maturing 2029 Through 2032 | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions																$ 665,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Minimum
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Performance obligation term																1 year
American Airlines, Inc. | Minimum | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							5.00%								5.00%	5.00%
American Airlines, Inc. | Minimum | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							1.32%								1.32%	1.32%
American Airlines, Inc. | Maximum
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Performance obligation term																7 years
American Airlines, Inc. | Maximum | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							5.38%								5.38%	5.38%
American Airlines, Inc. | Maximum | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | Secured Debt
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate per annum							5.83%								5.83%	5.83%
American Airlines, Inc. | Loyalty program liability
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Payment term																30 days
Number of revenue components | component																2
Recognition of revenue																$ 1,232,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Loyalty revenue - marketing services
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Operating revenues																$ 1,825,000,000	$ 2,361,000,000	$ 2,352,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Air traffic liability
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Performance obligation term																1 year
Recognition of revenue																$ 2,800,000,000
Contract with customer, liability, travel credits							$ 2,600,000,000								$ 2,600,000,000	$ 2,600,000,000