Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	$ (4,559)	$ (2,032)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(57)	(2,687)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(116)	160
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(173)	(2,527)	$ 948
Ending Balance, net of tax	(4,732)	(4,559)	(2,032)
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Balance, tax	(880)	(1,210)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, tax	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), tax		330
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax		330	(538)
Balance, tax	(880)	(880)	(1,210)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(4,559)	(2,032)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(57)	(2,687)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(116)	160
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(173)	(2,527)	948
Ending Balance, net of tax	(4,732)	(4,559)	(2,032)
Pension and Retiree Medical Liability [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(3,683)	(887)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(51)	(2,633)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(108)	(163)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(159)	(2,796)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(3,842)	(3,683)	(887)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(3,683)	(887)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(51)	(2,633)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(108)	(163)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(159)	(2,796)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(3,842)	(3,683)	(887)
Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	9	67
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax		(54)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9)	(4)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9)	(58)
Ending Balance, net of tax		9	67
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	9	67
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax		(54)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9)	(4)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9)	(58)
Ending Balance, net of tax		9	67
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(5)	(2)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(6)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1	(3)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(5)	(3)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(10)	(5)	(2)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(5)	(2)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(6)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1	(3)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(5)	(3)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(10)	(5)	(2)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(4,656)	(2,140)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(58)	(2,673)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(117)	157
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(175)	(2,516)	948
Ending Balance, net of tax	(4,831)	(4,656)	(2,140)
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Balance, tax	(991)	(1,319)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, tax	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), tax		328
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax		328	(538)
Balance, tax	(991)	(991)	(1,319)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(4,656)	(2,140)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(58)	(2,673)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(117)	157
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(175)	(2,516)	948
Ending Balance, net of tax	(4,831)	(4,656)	(2,140)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension and Retiree Medical Liability [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(3,671)	(887)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(51)	(2,621)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(109)	(163)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(160)	(2,784)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(3,831)	(3,671)	(887)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(3,671)	(887)
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(51)	(2,621)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(109)	(163)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(160)	(2,784)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(3,831)	(3,671)	(887)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	9	65
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax		(52)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9)	(4)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9)	(56)
Ending Balance, net of tax		9	65
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	9	65
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax		(52)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9)	(4)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9)	(56)
Ending Balance, net of tax		9	65
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(3)	1
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(7)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1	(4)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6)	(4)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(9)	(3)	1
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(3)	1
Other comprehensive income loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(7)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1	(4)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6)	(4)
Ending Balance, net of tax	$ (9)	$ (3)	$ 1