Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	$ 757	$ 774
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	8,882
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	646	650
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	5,499
Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	8,125
Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	4,853
Money Market Funds [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,130
Money Market Funds [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,009
Government Agency Investments [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	101
Repurchase Agreements [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	46
Repurchase Agreements [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	46
Corporate Obligations [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	4,110
Corporate Obligations [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	2,151
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	2,738
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,647
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	757
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	1,887
Level 1 [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	646
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	1,655
Level 1 [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,130
Level 1 [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,009
Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,130
Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,009
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	6,995
Level 2 [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	3,844
Level 2 [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	6,995
Level 2 [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	3,844
Level 2 [Member] | Government Agency Investments [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	101
Level 2 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	46
Level 2 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	46
Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	4,110
Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	2,151
Level 2 [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	2,738
Level 2 [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	$ 1,647