Regional Expenses - Components of Regional Expenses (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	$ 1,544us-gaap_FuelCosts	$ 2,711us-gaap_FuelCosts
Salaries, wages and benefits	2,373us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	2,119us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Maintenance, materials and repairs	494	485
Other rent and landing fees	408us-gaap_LandingFeesAndOtherRentals	424us-gaap_LandingFeesAndOtherRentals
Aircraft rent	317us-gaap_AircraftRental	320us-gaap_AircraftRental
Selling expenses	336us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense	401us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense
Depreciation and amortization	336us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	307us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Special items, net	303aal_RestructuringAndOther	(137)aal_RestructuringAndOther
Other	1,038us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	1,041us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Total regional expenses	1,462	1,594
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	1,070	1,871
Salaries, wages and benefits	1,585	1,398
Maintenance, materials and repairs	304	332
Other rent and landing fees	270	285
Aircraft rent	225	216
Selling expenses	235	284
Depreciation and amortization	236	214
Special items, net	198	(216)
Other	758	749
Total regional expenses	728	758
Regional Expenses [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	311	500
Salaries, wages and benefits	292	265
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	379	347
Maintenance, materials and repairs	75	87
Other rent and landing fees	106	96
Aircraft rent	9	14
Selling expenses	77	72
Depreciation and amortization	58	53
Special items, net	7	4
Other	148	156
Total regional expenses	1,462	1,594
Regional Expenses [Member] \| American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	160	252
Salaries, wages and benefits	31	5
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	293	302
Other rent and landing fees	63	55
Selling expenses	37	36
Depreciation and amortization	42	37
Special items, net	2	1
Other	100	70
Total regional expenses	$ 728	$ 758

Capacity Purchases

No definition available.

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- Definition

Significant and non-routine operating expenses (credits) such as asset impairments and restructuring charges that may not be an indicator of future cash flows.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Maintenance costs incurred and directly related to services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. Includes the cost of inspections and repairs, materials and routine maintenance costs for all aircraft and engines.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Expenses incurred related to the lease of aircraft from outside third parties that are used in the entity's business operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Costs incurred related to air services provided by third-party transportation companies, including regional affiliates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

Fuel costs incurred that are directly related to goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of expenditures for salaries, wages, profit sharing and incentive compensation, and other employee benefits, including equity-based compensation, and pension and other postretirement benefit expense.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Direct costs incurred at airports in which the entity conducts flight operations. The costs primarily consist of fees paid to the airport authority for takeoff and landing, gate space and facilities, allocations of common space such as security and other terminal costs and fuel storage facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The total amount of other operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate total amount of expenses directly related to the marketing or selling of products or services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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