Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 2,494	$ 1,256
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits	(1,409)	(1,047)
Purchases of short-term investments	(3,474)	(1,176)
Sales of short-term investments	1,660	882
Decrease in restricted cash and short-term investments	17	88
Net proceeds from slot transaction		307aal_NetCashProceedsFromSlotTransaction
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	4	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,202)	(943)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt and capital leases	(746)	(501)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,766	224
Deferred financing costs	(25)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	(7)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Sale-leaseback transactions		165
Exercise of stock options		9
Treasury stock repurchases	(181)	(84)
Dividend payment	(70)us-gaap_PaymentsOfOrdinaryDividends
Other financing activities	18
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	762	(194)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	54us-gaap_CashPeriodIncreaseDecrease	119us-gaap_CashPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Cash at beginning of period	994us-gaap_Cash	1,140us-gaap_Cash
Cash at end of period	1,048us-gaap_Cash	1,259us-gaap_Cash
American Airlines Group (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(242)	(9)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	500
Deferred financing costs	(7)
Exercise of stock options		9
Treasury stock repurchases	(181)	(84)
Funds transferred from (to) affiliates, net		84
Dividend payment	(70)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	242	9
Cash at beginning of period	1	1
Cash at end of period	1	1
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	2,285	742
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits	(1,160)	(722)
Purchases of short-term investments	(1,945)	(499)
Sales of short-term investments	382	682
Decrease in restricted cash and short-term investments	4	3
Net proceeds from slot transaction		299
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	4	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,715)	(234)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt and capital leases	(680)	(430)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,227
Deferred financing costs	(18)	(5)
Sale-leaseback transactions		165
Funds transferred from (to) affiliates, net		(84)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	529	(354)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	99	154
Cash at beginning of period	785	829
Cash at end of period	884	983
US Airways Group [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in cash	3
Cash at beginning of period	2	1
Cash at end of period	5	1
US Airways [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	430	515
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits	(229)	(316)
Purchases of short-term investments	(1,529)	(677)
Sales of short-term investments	1,278	200
Decrease in restricted cash and short-term investments	13	85
Net proceeds from slot transaction		8
Net cash used in investing activities	(467)	(700)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt and capital leases	(66)	(71)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	39	224
Deferred financing costs		(2)
Other financing activities	18
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(9)	151
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(46)	(34)
Cash at beginning of period	199	303
Cash at end of period	153	269
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	18	8
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures and aircraft purchase deposits	(20)	(9)
Net cash used in investing activities	(20)	(9)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(2)	(1)
Cash at beginning of period	7	6
Cash at end of period	$ 5	$ 5

Funds Transferred To Affiliates, Net

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The net cash inflow (outflow) for the net change associated with funds and investments that are not available for withdrawal or use (such as funds held in escrow) and are associated with underlying transactions that are classified as investing activities.

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Net Cash Proceeds From Slot Transaction

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The cash outflow for debt and for leases meeting the criteria for capitalization, initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of financing activities, excluding discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) of investing activities, excluding discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, excluding discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

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The cash outflow paid to third parties in connection with debt origination, which will be amortized over the remaining maturity period of the associated long-term debt.

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Cash outflow in the form of ordinary dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests, generally out of earnings.

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The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

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The net cash inflow or outflow from other financing activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy.

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The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

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Amount of cash inflow after closing and deferred financing costs received by a seller-lessee in a sale-leaseback recognized in financing activities.

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