Share Based Compensation - Cash-Settled SAR Award Activity for All Plans (Detail) - Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights (CSARs) [Member] - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards, Beginning Balance (in shares)	851	1,611	2,865
Stock Options and CSARs, Granted (in shares)	0	0	0
Stock Options and CSARs, Exercised (in shares)	(501)	(760)	(1,254)
Stock Options and CSARs, Forfeited (in shares)	0	0	0
Stock Options and CSARs, Expired (in shares)	0	0	0
Awards, Ending Balance (in shares)	350	851	1,611
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 6.35	$ 6.33	$ 6.26
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised (in dollars per share)	5.24	6.31	6.18
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Expired (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 7.94	$ 6.35	$ 6.33
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years), Ending Balance	1 year
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Ending balance	$ 14
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards, Beginning Balance (in shares)	851	1,611	2,865
Stock Options and CSARs, Granted (in shares)	0	0	0
Stock Options and CSARs, Exercised (in shares)	(501)	(760)	(1,254)
Stock Options and CSARs, Forfeited (in shares)	0	0	0
Stock Options and CSARs, Expired (in shares)	0	0	0
Awards, Ending Balance (in shares)	350	851	1,611
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 6.35	$ 6.33	$ 6.26
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised (in dollars per share)	5.24	6.31	6.18
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Expired (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 7.94	$ 6.35	$ 6.33
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years), Ending Balance	1 year
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Ending balance	$ 14