Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)		6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 20, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) reporting_unit member component $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2021 USD ($) shares	Apr. 23, 2021 $ / shares	Mar. 24, 2021 USD ($)	Jan. 15, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares	Jan. 01, 2021 USD ($)	Oct. 21, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 25, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Decrease in flying compared to prior year period (in percentage)					24.70%
Decrease in domestic capacity in percentage					0.145
Decrease in international capacity in percentage					0.449
Number of team members opting for early retirement or long-term paid leave (more than) | member					1,600
Available liquidity					$ 15,800,000,000
Unrestricted cash and short-term investments					12,400,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					3,411,000,000
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment					193,000,000	$ 351,000,000	$ 54,000,000
Covenant terms, minimum aggregate liquidity required					2,000,000,000
Adjustments to additional paid in capital, net of tax						(320,000,000)
Retained deficit					$ (8,638,000,000)	(6,664,000,000)
Consolidated reporting unit | reporting_unit					1
Goodwill impairment					$ 0
Goodwill					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
Operating revenues					$ 29,882,000,000	17,337,000,000	45,768,000,000
Contract receivables settlement duration					7 days
Advertising expense					$ 105,000,000	57,000,000	144,000,000
Foreign currency gains (losses)					(4,000,000)	(24,000,000)	(32,000,000)
American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					3,411,000,000
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment					192,000,000	351,000,000	49,000,000
Retained deficit					$ (7,285,000,000)	(5,508,000,000)
Consolidated reporting unit | reporting_unit					1
Goodwill impairment					$ 0
Goodwill					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
Operating revenues					$ 29,880,000,000	17,335,000,000	45,761,000,000
Contract receivables settlement duration					7 days
Advertising expense					$ 105,000,000	57,000,000	144,000,000
Foreign currency gains (losses)					$ (4,000,000)	$ (24,000,000)	$ (32,000,000)
Minimum
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Performance obligation term					1 year
Minimum | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Performance obligation term					1 year
Maximum
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Performance obligation term					5 years
Maximum | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Performance obligation term					5 years
Air traffic liability
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Performance obligation term					1 year
Contract with customer, liability, updated revenue recognition period					12 months
Recognition of revenue					$ 1,700,000,000
Air traffic liability | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Performance obligation term					1 year
Recognition of revenue					$ 1,700,000,000
Loyalty program liability
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Payment term					30 days
Number of revenue components | component					2
Recognition of revenue					$ 2,221,000,000
Loyalty program liability | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Payment term					30 days
Number of revenue components | component					2
Recognition of revenue					$ 2,221,000,000
At-the-market Offering
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Issuance of shares of common stock, net of offering costs (in shares) | shares					24,150,764	68,561,487
Common shares, stock price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares					$ 19.26
Proceeds from issuance of common stock					$ 460,000,000
Common stock, remaining authorized amount					650,000,000
US Department Of The Treasury, CARES Act, Payroll Support Program Two
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Proceeds from government assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act					3,500,000,000
US Department Of The Treasury, CARES Act, Payroll Support Program Three
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Proceeds from government assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act					3,300,000,000
US Department Of The Treasury, CARES Act, Payroll Support Program One
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Proceeds from government assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act	$ 6,000,000,000
PSP1 Promissory Note
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued	$ 1,800,000,000				1,800,000,000
Warrants, number of warrant shares of common stock | shares	14,100,000
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.51
Fair value of warrants	$ 63,000,000
PSP2 Promissory Note
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued					$ 1,000,000,000						$ 1,000,000,000
Warrants, number of warrant shares of common stock | shares					6,600,000			6,600,000
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares											$ 15.66
PSP3 Promissory Note
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued					$ 946,000,000
Warrants, number of warrant shares of common stock | shares					4,400,000
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares									$ 21.75
PSP2 Warrants
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Fair value of warrants								$ 76,000,000
PSP3 Warrants
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Fair value of warrants					$ 46,000,000
Other PSP1 Financial Assistance, CARES Act
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Proceeds from government assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act				$ 4,200,000,000
Other PSP2 Financial Assistance, CARES Act
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Proceeds from government assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act			$ 2,400,000,000
Other PSP3 Financial Assistance, CARES Act
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Proceeds from government assistance, payroll support program, CARES Act		$ 2,300,000,000
Senior Notes | 5.50% Senior Notes
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued					$ 3,500,000,000					$ 3,500,000,000
Stated interest rate					5.50%					5.50%
Senior Notes | 5.75% Senior Notes
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued					$ 3,000,000,000					$ 3,000,000,000
Stated interest rate					5.75%					5.75%
Senior Notes | Senior Notes 6.50% Due 2025
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued															$ 1,000,000,000
Stated interest rate															6.50%
Reduction of debt discount					$ 22,000,000
Senior Notes | Senior Notes 6.50% Due 2025 | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Equity component of convertible debt issued, net of tax and offering costs					415,000,000
Adjustments to additional paid in capital, net of tax					$ 320,000,000
Retained deficit												$ 19,000,000
Reduction of debt discount												$ (389,000,000)
Secured Debt | 5.50% Senior Notes
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.50%
Secured Debt | 5.50% Senior Notes | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.50%
Secured Debt | 5.75% Senior Notes
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.75%
Secured Debt | 5.75% Senior Notes | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.75%
Secured Debt | Term Loan Facility
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued					$ 3,500,000,000
Secured Debt | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates and Other Equipment Financing
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of debt					94,000,000
Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Aggregate principal issued					150,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt					$ 62,000,000
Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Minimum
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					2.25%
Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Minimum | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					2.25%
Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Maximum
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.38%
Secured Debt | Special Facility Revenue Bonds | Maximum | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Stated interest rate					5.38%
Secured Debt | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions					$ 181,000,000
Secured Debt | Spare Parts Credit Facility April 2016 | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt					950,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					2,800,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Short-term Revolving and Other Facilities
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					568,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Short-term Revolving and Other Facilities | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					568,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | 2013 Credit  Facilities
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					750,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | 2013 Credit  Facilities | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					750,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | 2014 Credit  Facilities
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					1,643,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | 2014 Credit  Facilities | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					1,643,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Credit Facilities
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					450,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Credit Facilities | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					450,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | 2013 Credit  Facilities
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity					750,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | 2013 Credit  Facilities | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity					0											$ 0
Repayments of long-term debt					750,000,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																		$ 750,000,000	$ 1,000,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | 2014 Credit  Facilities
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity					1,643,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | 2014 Credit  Facilities | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt					1,600,000,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																	$ 1,200,000,000	1,600,000,000	1,500,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Secured Debt | April 2016 Credit Facilities | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt					450,000,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																		$ 450,000,000	$ 300,000,000
Line of Credit | Treasury Term Loan Facility
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Warrants, number of warrant shares of common stock | shares				4,400,000
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.51
Line of Credit | Treasury Term Loan Facility | American Airlines, Inc.
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt					550,000,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity					$ 7,500,000,000								$ 7,500,000,000	$ 5,500,000,000
Warrants, number of warrant shares of common stock | shares				4,400,000
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.51