Indebtedness (Schedule Of Collateral Coverage Tests) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	43%; failure to meet collateral test requires posting of additional collateral
LTV as of Last Measurement Date	44.10%
Number of aircrafts collateralized	143
Principal amount outstanding	$ 450
2005 Spare Engine EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	32.8% applicable to the one Tranche only; failure to meet collateral test requires posting of additional cash collateral
LTV as of Last Measurement Date	31.80%
Number of aircrafts collateralized	87
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	1.5x Collateral valuation to amount of debt outstanding (67% LTV); failure to meet collateral test results in American paying 2% additional interest until the ratio is at least 1.5x; additional collateral can be posted to meet this requirement
Collateral Description	Generally, certainroute authorities,take-off andlanding slots, andrights to airportfacilities used byAmerican tooperate certainservices betweenthe U.S. andLondon Heathrow,Tokyo Narita/ Haneda, and China
LTV as of Last Measurement Date	65.50%
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