Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended								6 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 7.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 7.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 [Member] American [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 7.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 [Member] American [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series A Equipment Notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series B Equipment Notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Boeing 737-823 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Boeing 737-823 [Member] American [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Boeing 757-223 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Boeing 767-323ER [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Boeing 777-223ER [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 AMR Eagle's Secured Debt [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 AMR Eagle's Secured Debt [Member] AMR & American [Member]
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2011				$ 1,300,000,000
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2012				1,800,000,000
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2013				1,000,000,000
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2014				1,500,000,000
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2015				771,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2011				569,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2012				1,100,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2013				981,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2014				840,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2015				681,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2016 and beyond				6,100,000,000
Issued guarantees covering secured bond, tax exempt				1,600,000,000
Issued guarantees covering secured debt				2,000,000,000															2,200,000,000	193,000,000
Issued guarantees covering unsecured debt				848,000,000
Proceeds expected to be received from sale of certificates		59,000,000	68,000,000
Guarantees of American leases of certain super ATR aircraft				125,000,000
Closed offering of class A and class B trust certificates	657,000,000
Number of aircrafts delivered														15	15	6	2	7
Number of aircraft encumbered by private mortgages or liens				27
Debt instrument interest percentage							7.50%	7.50%		5.25%	7.00%
Proceeds from sale certificates				530,000,000
Long-term debt				$ 11,169,000,000	$ 10,532,000,000		$ 1,000,000,000		$ 1,000,000,000
Debt instrument maturity years							2016	2016
Senior secured notes redemption price percentage				100.00%		103.00%
Percentage of maximum, aggregate principal equity amount				35.00%
Proceed from equity offerings redemption price percentage				107.50%
Percentage of aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes				10.00%
Indebtedness collateral ratio												1.0	1.5
Percentage of additional interest on notes				2.00%