Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, tax	$ (677)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), tax	8
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	8
Ending Balance, tax	(669)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(5,083)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(14)	$ (16)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(14)	(17)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(5,097)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, before tax	(4,406)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(22)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(22)
Ending Balance, before tax	(4,428)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, tax	(788)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), tax	8
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	8
Ending Balance, tax	(780)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, net of tax	(5,182)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(14)	(16)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(14)	$ (17)
Ending Balance, net of tax	(5,196)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, before tax	(4,394)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(22)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(22)
Ending Balance, before tax	$ (4,416)