Retirement Benefits - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 1	$ 1	$ 2	$ 3
Interest cost	184	186	552	557
Expected return on assets	(213)	(197)	(639)	(589)
Settlements		1	1	4
Prior service cost (benefit)	7	7	21	21
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	28	12	84	35
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	7	10	21	31
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost		1	1	2
Interest cost	183	185	550	554
Expected return on assets	(212)	(196)	(636)	(587)
Settlements		1	1	4
Prior service cost (benefit)	7	7	21	21
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	28	12	84	35
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	6	10	21	29
Retiree Medical and Other Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	1		3	1
Interest cost	13	15	38	46
Expected return on assets	(5)	(5)	(15)	(15)
Prior service cost (benefit)	(60)	(55)	(182)	(175)
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	(2)	(2)	(5)	(6)
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	(53)	(47)	(161)	(149)
Retiree Medical and Other Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost			1
Interest cost	11	14	34	42
Expected return on assets	(5)	(5)	(15)	(15)
Prior service cost (benefit)	(59)	(54)	(178)	(172)
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	(2)	(2)	(6)	(6)
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$ (55)	$ (47)	$ (164)	$ (151)