Debt - Components of Long-Term Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	$ 20,593	$ 17,963
Less: Total unamortized debt discount	32	59
Less: Current maturities	1,712	1,708
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities	18,849	16,196
Secured Debt Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	18,843	16,713
Secured Debt Member] | 2013 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,867	1,872
Secured Debt Member] | 2014 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	750	750
Secured Debt Member] | Credit Facility, Tranche B-1, Citicorp 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	980	990
Secured Debt Member] | Credit Facility, Tranche B-2, Citicorp 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	588	594
Secured Debt Member] | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	8,891	7,028
Secured Debt Member] | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	3,747	2,952
Secured Debt Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,080	1,100
Secured Debt Member] | AAdvantage Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations		433
Secured Debt Member] | Other Secured Obligations, Fixed Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	940	994
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,750	1,250
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50, Due in 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	750	750
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.125, Due in 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	500	500
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.625, Due in 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	500
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	13,268	11,276
Less: Total unamortized debt discount	16	42
Less: Current maturities	1,212	1,230
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities	12,040	10,004
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	13,241	11,249
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member] | 2013 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,867	1,872
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member] | 2014 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	750	750
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member] | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	6,283	4,271
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member] | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	2,355	1,860
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,051	1,071
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member] | AAdvantage Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations		433
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member] | Other Secured Obligations, Fixed Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	935	992
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	27	27
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | Affiliate Unsecured Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	$ 27	$ 27