Special Items, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Fleet restructuring expenses	$ 77	$ 113	$ 160	$ 226
Merger integration expenses	39	60	76	120
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net	5	(57)	5	(56)
Intangible asset impairment	0	26	0	26
Litigation settlement	0	5	0	45
Labor contract expenses	0	0	0	13
Other operating charges, net	0	35	18	33
Mainline operating special items, net	121	182	259	407
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity investments, net	52	66	(25)	66
Debt refinancing and extinguishment charges	8	14	8	14
Other nonoperating charges, net	9	0	16	0
Nonoperating special items, net	69	80	(1)	80
Income tax special items, net	0	18	0	40
Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Change in deferred tax assets valuation allowance			22
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other tax charges		18
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Fleet restructuring expenses	77	113	160	226
Merger integration expenses	39	60	76	120
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net	5	(57)	5	(56)
Intangible asset impairment	0	26	0	26
Litigation settlement	0	5	0	45
Labor contract expenses	0	0	0	13
Other operating charges, net	0	35	18	33
Mainline operating special items, net	121	182	259	407
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity investments, net	52	66	(25)	66
Debt refinancing and extinguishment charges	8	14	8	14
Other nonoperating charges, net	9	0	16	0
Nonoperating special items, net	69	80	(1)	80
Income tax special items, net	$ 0	18	0	$ 48
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Change in deferred tax assets valuation allowance			$ 30
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other tax charges		$ 18