Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax			$ (630)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax			15
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax			15
Ending balance, tax	$ (615)		(615)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax			(5,154)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(17)	$ (14)	(49)	$ (43)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax			(49)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,203)		(5,203)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(4,523)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			(64)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(64)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,587)		(4,587)
Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			0
Ending balance, before tax	(1)		(1)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax			(742)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax			15
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax			15
Ending balance, tax	(727)		(727)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax			(5,251)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(17)	$ (14)	(50)	$ (43)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax			(50)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,301)		(5,301)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(4,508)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			(65)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(65)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,573)		(4,573)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax			(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			0
Ending balance, before tax	$ (1)		$ (1)