Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, net of tax			$ (4,559)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax			(5)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$ (26)	$ (47)	(87)	$ 210
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(30)	(47)	(92)	139
Ending Balance, net of tax	(4,651)		(4,651)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, net of tax			(4,645)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, net of tax			(4)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(26)	(46)	(85)	209
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(29)	(46)	(89)	140
Ending Balance, net of tax	(4,734)		(4,734)
Pension and Retiree Medical Liability [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax			(3,683)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(79)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax			(79)
Ending Balance, before tax	(3,762)		(3,762)
Pension and Retiree Medical Liability [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax			(3,660)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(76)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax			(76)
Ending Balance, before tax	(3,736)		(3,736)
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax			9
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(9)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax			(9)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(7)	(9)	5
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax			9
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(9)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax			(9)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(7)	(9)	5
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax			(5)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, before tax			(5)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			1
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax			(4)
Ending Balance, before tax	(9)		(9)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(2)	1
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance, before tax			(3)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, before tax			(4)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax			(4)
Ending Balance, before tax	(7)		(7)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		$ (2)		(2)
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Balance, tax			(880)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, tax			0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), tax			0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax			0
Balance, tax	(880)		(880)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax				330
Income Tax Benefit (Expense) [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Balance, tax			(991)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before reclassifications, tax			0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), tax			0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax			0
Balance, tax	$ (991)		$ (991)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax				$ 328