Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	$ (31)	$ (103)
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(4,559)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(31)	(36)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(31)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(4,590)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(31)	(102)
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(4,645)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(31)	(35)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(31)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(4,676)
Pension and Retiree Medical Liability [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax	(3,683)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(27)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(27)
Ending Balance, before tax	(3,710)
Pension and Retiree Medical Liability [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax	(3,660)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(26)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(26)
Ending Balance, before tax	(3,686)
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax	(5)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	2
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	2
Ending Balance, before tax	(3)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2	2
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax	(3)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	1
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	1
Ending Balance, before tax	(2)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1	2
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax	9
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(6)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(6)
Ending Balance, before tax	3
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6)	7
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax	9
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(6)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax	(6)
Ending Balance, before tax	3
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6)	7
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Balance, tax	(880)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), tax	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	0
Balance, tax	(880)
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Balance, tax	(991)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), tax	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	0
Balance, tax	$ (991)