Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax	$ (1,218)	$ (1,252)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, tax	107	15
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax	20	19
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	127	34
Ending balance, tax	(1,091)	(1,218)	$ (1,252)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax	(5,896)	(5,776)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(366)	(51)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(69)	(69)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(435)	(120)	(71)
Ending balance, net of tax	(6,331)	(5,896)	(5,776)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(4,673)	(4,523)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax	(476)	(62)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	(89)	(88)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(565)	(150)
Ending balance, before tax	(5,238)	(4,673)	(4,523)
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(5)	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax	3	(4)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	3	(4)
Ending balance, before tax	(2)	(5)	(1)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax	(1,329)	(1,364)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, tax	106	15
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax	20	20
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	126	35
Ending balance, tax	(1,203)	(1,329)	(1,364)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax	(5,992)	(5,873)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(362)	(50)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(69)	(69)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(431)	(119)	(69)
Ending balance, net of tax	(6,423)	(5,992)	(5,873)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(4,658)	(4,508)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax	(471)	(61)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	(89)	(89)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(560)	(150)
Ending balance, before tax	(5,218)	(4,658)	(4,508)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(5)	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax	3	(4)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	3	(4)
Ending balance, before tax	$ (2)	$ (5)	$ (1)