Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - Recurring [Member] $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 6,374
Restricted cash and short-term investments	635
Total	7,009
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	378
Restricted cash and short-term investments	635
Total	1,013
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	5,996
Total	5,996
Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	378
Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	378
Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,694
Corporate Bonds [Member] | Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	230
Corporate Bonds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,694
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,052
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	100
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,052
Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	250
Repurchase Agreements [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	250
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	6,371
Restricted cash and short-term investments	635
Total	7,006
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	376
Restricted cash and short-term investments	635
Total	1,011
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	5,995
Total	5,995
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	376
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	376
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,694
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	230
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,694
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,051
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	100
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,051
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	250
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 250