Special Items - Components of Special Items, Net Included in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Mainline operating special items, net	$ 163		$ 221	$ 610	$ 335
Integration related costs	196		166	633	530
Proceeds received from legal settlement	66			66
Net contract charges				99
Fair value adjustments for bankruptcy settlement obligations			40	75	35
Gain related to sale of DCA slots					309
Other special charges			99		99
Revision of prior estimates aircraft residual values and other asset impairments			81		81
Equipment lease buyout charges					46
Nonoperating special items, net	21		50	2	101
Gain on sale of investment				22
Early debt extinguishment gain (cost)					(54)
Non-cash interest accretion, bankruptcy settlement obligations					33
Non-cash deferred income tax provision	6		8	22	22
Secured Debt Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Write off of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs				40
Fuel Hedging Contracts [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Non-cash tax provision on sale of fuel hedging contracts					330
Texas Aero Engine Services Joint Venture [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Charge in connection with dissolution of business	38			38
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Mainline operating special items, net	77		164	350	127
Integration related costs	115		103	400	337
Proceeds received from legal settlement	66			66
Net contract charges				64
Fair value adjustments for bankruptcy settlement obligations			40	75	57
Gain related to sale of DCA slots					305
Other special charges			99		99
Revision of prior estimates aircraft residual values and other asset impairments			81		81
Equipment lease buyout charges					35
Nonoperating special items, net	21		48	24	89
Early debt extinguishment gain (cost)					(46)
Non-cash interest accretion, bankruptcy settlement obligations					29
Non-cash deferred income tax provision	6		$ 7	20	21
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Write off of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs				41
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Fuel Hedging Contracts [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Non-cash tax provision on sale of fuel hedging contracts					$ 328
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Texas Aero Engine Services Joint Venture [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Charge in connection with dissolution of business	$ 38			38
AAdvantage Loan [Member] | Secured Debt Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Early debt extinguishment gain (cost)		$ 17		17
AAdvantage Loan [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Early debt extinguishment gain (cost)		$ 17		$ 17