Indebtedness (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 American [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 Boeing 737-823 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Boeing 737-823 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Boeing 737-823 [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Boeing 737-800 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Boeing 737-800 [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 Boeing 757-223 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Boeing 757-223 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Boeing 767-323ER [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 Boeing 777-223ER [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Boeing 777-223ER [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A Equipment Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Series B Equipment Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2005 Spare Engine EETC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 AAdvantage Miles Advance Purchase [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 AAdvantage Miles Advance Purchase [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 AAdvantage Miles Advance Purchase [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 Trust Certificates [Member]	Jan. 25, 2011 Trust Certificates [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 6.25 Percent Senior Convertible Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued guarantees covering secured bond, tax exempt	$ 1,600,000,000
Issued guarantees covering secured debt	4,400,000,000
Issued guarantees covering unsecured debt	842,000,000
Guarantees of American leases of certain super ATR aircraft	105,000,000
Long-term debt	2,482,000,000																						890,000,000			726,000,000	657,000,000
Number of aircrafts delivered						14	15	2	35	13	14	6	2	13	7
Percentage of debt instrument, interest rate					2.00%													5.25%	7.00%	7.50%	10.50%					8.625%
Amount paid by Citibank for miles			1,000,000,000
Debt instrument discount, net																							110,000,000	110,000,000	110,000,000
Principal amount outstanding				1,000,000,000																	450,000,000							460,000,000
Common stock conversion rate, shares	101.0101
Common stock conversion principal amount	1,000
Common stock conversion price per share	$ 9.90
Interest, net of capitalized interest	747,000,000	735,000,000	631,000,000
Debt instrument maturity year																				2016	2012	2012
Proceeds redeemable from equity offerings, percentage	10.00%				35.00%
Percentage of principal amount used	107.50%				103.00%
Collateral ratio																1.0	1.5
Senior secured notes																					$ 450,000,000