Indebtedness (Schedule Of Collateral Coverage Tests) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	1.5x Collateral valuation toamount of debt outstanding(67% LTV); failure to meetcollateral test results inAmerican paying 2% additionalinterest until the ratio is at least1.5x; additional collateral canbe posted to meet thisrequirement
Collateral Description	Generally, certain route authorities, take-off and landing slots, and rights to airportfacilities used by American tooperate certain servicesbetween the U.S. and LondonHeathrow, Tokyo Narita/Haneda, and China
LTV as of Last Measurement Date	65.50%
10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	43%; failure to meet collateraltest requires posting of additional collateral
LTV as of Last Measurement Date	44.10%
Number of aircrafts collateralized	143
2005 Spare Engine EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	32.8% applicable to the one Trancheonly; failure to meet collateral test requiresposting of additional cash collateral
LTV as of Last Measurement Date	31.80%
Number of aircrafts collateralized	87
MD-80 [Member] | 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	74
MD-80 [Member] | 2005 Spare Engine EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	47
B757-200 [Member] | 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	41
B757-200 [Member] | 2005 Spare Engine EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	22
B767-200ER [Member] | 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	3
B767-200ER [Member] | 2005 Spare Engine EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	3
B767-300ER [Member] | 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	25
B767-300ER [Member] | 2005 Spare Engine EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	12
A300 [Member] | 2005 Spare Engine EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts collateralized	3