Employee Benefit Plans - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Pension Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1
Interest cost	180	188	361	375
Expected return on assets	(197)	(187)	(394)	(375)
Prior service cost (benefit)	7	7	14	14
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	36	31	72	63
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	27	40	54	78
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	0	0	1	1
Interest cost	180	187	359	373
Expected return on assets	(196)	(187)	(393)	(373)
Prior service cost (benefit)	7	7	14	14
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	36	31	72	63
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	27	38	53	78
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	1	1	2	2
Interest cost	10	12	19	24
Expected return on assets	(5)	(5)	(10)	(10)
Prior service cost (benefit)	(59)	(60)	(119)	(120)
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	(6)	(4)	(11)	(8)
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	(59)	(56)	(119)	(112)
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	1	1	2	2
Interest cost	10	12	19	24
Expected return on assets	(5)	(5)	(10)	(10)
Prior service cost (benefit)	(59)	(60)	(119)	(120)
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	(6)	(4)	(11)	(8)
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$ (59)	$ (56)	$ (119)	$ (112)