Debt - Narrative (Details)									1 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Jul. 20, 2026 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Jul. 20, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jul. 22, 2021 USD ($)	Apr. 23, 2021	Mar. 24, 2021 USD ($)	Jan. 15, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) day	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2021 ft²	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 21, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 25, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				$ 3,413,000,000					$ 3,413,000,000					$ 3,413,000,000
Total long-term debt				38,343,000,000					38,343,000,000					38,343,000,000				$ 32,770,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt														12,096,000,000	$ 11,564,000,000
Costs of issuance														176,000,000	132,000,000
JFK Airport upgrade
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Construction project, expected cost																					$ 439,000,000
New Terminal Building
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Area of terminal building | ft²																	51,000
Existing Terminal Building
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Area of terminal building | ft²																	73,300
Payroll Support Program Promissory Note Two, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount								$ 1,000,000,000								$ 1,000,000,000
Prepayment term, number of days of the occurrence of triggering event								30 days
Payroll Support Program Promissory Note Three, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount										$ 946,000,000
Prepayment term, number of days of the occurrence of triggering event						30 days
2020 JFK Bonds | JFK Airport upgrade
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Expected cost, funded by special facility revenue bond													$ 298,000,000
2021 JFK Bonds | JFK Airport upgrade
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Expected cost, funded by special facility revenue bond										84,000,000
Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				32,347,000,000					32,347,000,000					32,347,000,000				28,755,000,000
Secured Debt | 2013 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 1,770,000,000					$ 1,770,000,000					$ 1,770,000,000				1,788,000,000
Variable interest rate				1.84%					1.84%					1.84%
Secured Debt | 2014 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 1,208,000,000					$ 1,208,000,000					$ 1,208,000,000				1,220,000,000
Variable interest rate				1.84%					1.84%					1.84%
Secured Debt | April 2016 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 0					$ 0					$ 0				450,000,000
Secured Debt | April 2016 Spare Parts Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 0					$ 0					$ 0				960,000,000
Secured Debt | 5.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate				5.50%					5.50%					5.50%
Total long-term debt				$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000				0
Secured Debt | 5.75% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate				5.75%					5.75%					5.75%
Total long-term debt				$ 3,000,000,000					$ 3,000,000,000					$ 3,000,000,000				0
Secured Debt | AAdvantage Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 3,500,000,000			$ 3,500,000,000		$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000				0
Debt redemption price percentage														100.00%
Variable interest rate				5.50%					5.50%					5.50%
Mandatory prepayment trigger, net proceeds from pre-paid frequent flyer							500,000,000
Mandatory prepayment amount, threshold net proceeds from pre-paid frequent flyer							505,000,000
Covenant terms, threshold net proceeds from pre-paid frequent flyer							$ 550,000,000
Percentage of cash receipts saved in collection account (at least)							0.90
Covenant terms, minimum liquidity							$ 2,000,000,000
Secured Debt | AAdvantage Term Loan Facility | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable interest rate				0.75%					0.75%					0.75%
Secured Debt | 2020 JFK Bonds and 2021 JFK Bonds | Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt				$ 264,000,000
Secured Debt | 2021 JFK Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount										150,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt										150,000,000
Costs of issuance										$ 4,000,000
Secured Debt | 2021 JFK Bonds, 2.25% Matures 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate										2.25%
Debt instrument, face amount										$ 70,000,000
Secured Debt | 2021 JFK Bonds, 3.00% Matures 2031
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate										3.00%
Debt instrument, face amount										$ 80,000,000
Secured Debt | 2016 JFK Bonds and 2020 JFK Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt										$ 62,000,000
Secured Debt | LIBOR | AAdvantage Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate														4.75%
Senior Notes | 6.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate													6.50%
If-converted value in excess of principal amount				$ 267,000,000					$ 267,000,000					$ 267,000,000
Conversion terms, percentage sales price exceeds conversion price									130.00%
Convertible debt, threshold trading days | day														20
Convertible debt, threshold consecutive trading days | day														30
Conversion ratio														0.0617284
Senior Notes | 5.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate				5.50%			5.50%		5.50%					5.50%
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 3,500,000,000			$ 3,500,000,000		$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000
Senior Notes | 5.75% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate				5.75%			5.75%		5.75%					5.75%
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 3,000,000,000			$ 3,000,000,000		$ 3,000,000,000					$ 3,000,000,000
Senior Notes | Forecast | 5.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly installments			$ 292,000,000
Senior Notes | Forecast | 5.75% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly installments	$ 250,000,000
Senior Notes | Forecast | AAdvantage Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly installments		$ 175,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				2,800,000,000					2,800,000,000					2,800,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | 2013 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				750,000,000					750,000,000					750,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount				0					0					0
Repayments of debt											$ 750,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | 2014 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				1,643,000,000					1,643,000,000					1,643,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount				0					0					0
Repayments of debt											$ 1,600,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				450,000,000					450,000,000					450,000,000
Debt instrument, face amount				0					0					0
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				450,000,000					450,000,000					450,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | 2013 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				0					0					0				750,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | 2014 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				0					0					0				1,643,000,000
Line of Credit | Treasury Loan Agreement, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt							$ 550,000,000
Line of Credit | Secured Debt | Treasury Loan Agreement, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				0					0					0				550,000,000
Interest Rate First Five Years | Payroll Support Program Promissory Note Two, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate								1.00%
Interest Rate First Five Years | Payroll Support Program Promissory Note Three, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate						1.00%
Interest Rate Years Six Through Ten | Secured Overnight Financing Rate or Other | Payroll Support Program Promissory Note Two, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate								2.00%
Basis spread on variable rate, floor								0.00%
Interest Rate Years Six Through Ten | Secured Overnight Financing Rate or Other | Payroll Support Program Promissory Note Three, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate						2.00%
Basis spread on variable rate, floor						0.00%
American Airlines, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				3,413,000,000					3,413,000,000					3,413,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt														10,115,000,000	8,743,000,000
Costs of issuance														174,000,000	$ 122,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				32,347,000,000					32,347,000,000					32,347,000,000				28,731,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 2013 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 1,770,000,000					$ 1,770,000,000					$ 1,770,000,000				1,788,000,000
Variable interest rate				1.84%					1.84%					1.84%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 2014 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 1,208,000,000					$ 1,208,000,000					$ 1,208,000,000				1,220,000,000
Variable interest rate				1.84%					1.84%					1.84%
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | April 2016 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 0					$ 0					$ 0				450,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | April 2016 Spare Parts Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt					$ 950,000,000
Total long-term debt				$ 0					$ 0					$ 0				960,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt					$ 950,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 5.50% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate				5.50%					5.50%					5.50%
Total long-term debt				$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000				0
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | 5.75% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate				5.75%					5.75%					5.75%
Total long-term debt				$ 3,000,000,000					$ 3,000,000,000					$ 3,000,000,000				0
American Airlines, Inc. | Secured Debt | AAdvantage Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000				0
Variable interest rate				5.50%					5.50%					5.50%
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				$ 2,800,000,000					$ 2,800,000,000					$ 2,800,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility | Other Short-term Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				500,000,000					500,000,000					500,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility | Cargo Receivable Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				70,000,000					70,000,000					70,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility | 2013 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				750,000,000					750,000,000					750,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility | 2014 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				1,643,000,000					1,643,000,000					1,643,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity				450,000,000					450,000,000					450,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | 2013 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				0					0					0				750,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt														750,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | 2014 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				0					0					0				1,643,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt														1,600,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | April 2016 Revolving Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt														450,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Line of Credit | Treasury Loan Agreement, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				7,500,000,000					7,500,000,000					7,500,000,000					$ 7,500,000,000	$ 5,500,000,000
Borrowings from credit facilities												$ 550,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt														550,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. | Line of Credit | Secured Debt | Treasury Loan Agreement, CARES Act
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt				$ 0					$ 0					$ 0				$ 550,000,000