Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - Recurring [Member] $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 6,302
Restricted cash and short-term investments	543
Total	6,845
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	605
Restricted cash and short-term investments	95
Total	700
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	5,697
Restricted cash and short-term investments	448
Total	6,145
Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	605
Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	605
Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,400
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	421
Corporate Bonds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,400
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,297
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	1,100
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	3,297
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	6,298
Restricted cash and short-term investments	543
Total	6,841
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	601
Restricted cash and short-term investments	95
Total	696
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	5,697
Restricted cash and short-term investments	448
Total	6,145
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	601
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	601
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,400
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	421
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	2,400
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	3,297
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	1,100
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	$ 3,297