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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Impairment of goodwill $ 1,731us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss   $ 1,731us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss  
Impairment of goodwill amount after noncontrolling interest 1,719aa_GoodwillImpairmentLossAttributableToParent      
Amortization expense related to the intangible assets   69us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 73us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 82us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Primary Metals [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Impairment of goodwill 1,731us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= aa_PrimaryMetalsMember
  989us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= aa_PrimaryMetalsMember
 
Impairment of goodwill amount after noncontrolling interest 1,719aa_GoodwillImpairmentLossAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= aa_PrimaryMetalsMember
  1,719aa_GoodwillImpairmentLossAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= aa_PrimaryMetalsMember
 
Minimum [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Expected amortization for the year 2015   70us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Expected amortization for the year 2016   70us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Expected amortization for the year 2017   70us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Expected amortization for the year 2018   70us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Expected amortization for the year 2019   70us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Maximum [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Expected amortization for the year 2015   80us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Expected amortization for the year 2016   80us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Expected amortization for the year 2017   80us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Expected amortization for the year 2018   80us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Expected amortization for the year 2019   $ 80us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember