Employee Benefit Plans - Schedule of Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period	$ 13,557	$ 13,557	$ 12,897
Actual return on plan assets		1,710	1,427
Employer contributions	241	247	9
Settlements		(1)	(36)
Benefit payments		(822)	(740)
Fair value of plan assets at end of period		14,691	13,557	$ 12,897
Funded status at end of period		(4,219)	(6,255)
Special termination benefits		0	0	0
Contributions expected to be deferred under CARES Act			130
Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period	170	170	204
Actual return on plan assets		21	13
Employer contributions		48	30
Settlements		0	0
Benefit payments		(72)	(77)
Fair value of plan assets at end of period		167	170	204
Funded status at end of period		(931)	(876)
Special termination benefits		139	410	0
Increase in postretirement benefit obligation			410
American Airlines, Inc. \| Pension Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period	13,477	13,477	12,829
Actual return on plan assets		1,700	1,414
Employer contributions	241	247	6
Settlements		(1)	(36)
Benefit payments		(818)	(736)
Fair value of plan assets at end of period		14,605	13,477	12,829
Funded status at end of period		(4,186)	(6,213)
Special termination benefits		0	0	0
Contributions expected to be deferred under CARES Act			130
American Airlines, Inc. \| Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period	$ 170	170	204
Actual return on plan assets		21	13
Employer contributions		48	30
Settlements		0	0
Benefit payments		(72)	(77)
Fair value of plan assets at end of period		167	170	204
Funded status at end of period		(931)	(876)
Special termination benefits		$ 139	410	$ 0
Increase in postretirement benefit obligation			$ 410

Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions Made For Prior Year Under CARES Act

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in plan assets of defined benefit plan from actual return (loss) determined by change in fair value of plan assets adjusted for contributions, benefit payments, and other expenses.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanChangeInFairValueOfPlanAssetsRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123450688&loc=d3e4179-114921

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e2709-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 18
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123450688&loc=d3e4587-114921

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of (increase) decrease in benefit obligation of defined benefit plan from event reducing expected years of future service of present employees or eliminating accrual of benefits for some or all future services of present employees.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of asset segregated and restricted to provide benefit under defined benefit plan. Asset includes, but is not limited to, stock, bond, other investment, earning from investment, and contribution by employer and employee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123450688&loc=d3e4179-114921

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(02)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of funded (unfunded) status of defined benefit plan, measured as difference between fair value of plan assets and benefit obligation. Includes, but is not limited to, overfunded (underfunded) status.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123453770&loc=d3e1703-114919

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123450688&loc=d3e4179-114921

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of payment to participant under defined benefit plan which decreases plan assets. For pension plan, payment includes, but is not limited to, pension benefits and death benefits. For other postretirement plan, payment includes, but is not limited to, prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsBenefitsPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit from event reducing expected years of future service of present employees or eliminating accrual of defined benefits for some or all future services of present employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123453770&loc=SL108413299-114919

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (h)(7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (a)(7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123447040&loc=d3e2709-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToCurtailments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of payment, which decreases plan assets of defined benefit plan, for irrevocable action relieving primary responsibility for benefit obligation and eliminating risk for obligation and assets used to effect settlement. Transaction constituting settlement includes, but is not limited to, making lump-sum cash payment to participant in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and purchasing nonparticipating annuity contract.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanSettlementsPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aal_AmericanAirlinesIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: