Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Reporting_Unit	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Consolidated reporting unit | Reporting_Unit		1
Goodwill	$ 4,091,000,000	$ 4,091,000,000	$ 4,091,000,000
Amortization expense		76,000,000	55,000,000	$ 81,000,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets	1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)		0
Frequent flyer liability	2,525,000,000	2,789,000,000	2,525,000,000
Air traffic liability	3,747,000,000	3,912,000,000	3,747,000,000
Advertising and promotional expenses		116,000,000	110,000,000	92,000,000
Foreign currency gains (losses)		1,000,000	(751,000,000)	(114,000,000)
Nonoperating special items, net		49,000,000	594,000,000	132,000,000
Mileage Credits Sale [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	1,500,000,000	2,100,000,000	1,500,000,000
Marketing Component of Mileage Sales [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other revenues recognized for marketing component of mileage sales at the time of sale		1,900,000,000	1,700,000,000	1,600,000,000
AAdvantage Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	657,000,000	$ 669,000,000	657,000,000
US Airways Loyalty Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	296,000,000		296,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Consolidated reporting unit | Reporting_Unit		1
Goodwill	4,091,000,000	$ 4,091,000,000	4,091,000,000
Amortization expense		76,000,000	55,000,000	81,000,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets	1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)		0
Frequent flyer liability	2,525,000,000	2,789,000,000	2,525,000,000
Air traffic liability	3,747,000,000	3,912,000,000	3,747,000,000
Advertising and promotional expenses		116,000,000	110,000,000	92,000,000
Foreign currency gains (losses)		1,000,000	(751,000,000)	(114,000,000)
Nonoperating special items, net		49,000,000	616,000,000	128,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Mileage Credits Sale [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	1,500,000,000	2,100,000,000	1,500,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Marketing Component of Mileage Sales [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other revenues recognized for marketing component of mileage sales at the time of sale		1,900,000,000	1,700,000,000	1,600,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | AAdvantage Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	657,000,000	669,000,000	657,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | US Airways Loyalty Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	296,000,000		296,000,000
ASU 2016-09 [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Principle, Early Adoption [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, previously unrecognized excess tax benefits from stock compensation		418,000,000
Recognition of excess tax benefits from share based compensation to income tax provision		15,000,000
ASU 2016-09 [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Principle, Early Adoption [Member] | Retained Earnings(Deficit) [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Increase to retained earnings due to recognition of previously unrecognized excess tax benefits from stock compensation		418,000,000
ASU 2016-09 [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Principle, Early Adoption [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, previously unrecognized excess tax benefits from stock compensation		418,000,000
Recognition of excess tax benefits from share based compensation to income tax provision		15,000,000
ASU 2016-09 [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Principle, Early Adoption [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Retained Earnings(Deficit) [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Increase to retained earnings due to recognition of previously unrecognized excess tax benefits from stock compensation		$ 418,000,000
Venezuelan [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Foreign currency gains (losses)				(43,000,000)
Nonoperating special items, net	592,000,000		592,000,000
Venezuelan [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Foreign currency gains (losses)				$ (43,000,000)
Nonoperating special items, net	$ 592,000,000		$ 592,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Aircraft, Engines and Related Rotable Parts [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Residual value percentage of equipment and properties		5.00%
Minimum [Member] | Aircraft, Engines and Related Rotable Parts [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Residual value percentage of equipment and properties		5.00%
Maximum [Member] | Aircraft, Engines and Related Rotable Parts [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Residual value percentage of equipment and properties		10.00%
Maximum [Member] | Aircraft, Engines and Related Rotable Parts [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Residual value percentage of equipment and properties		10.00%
Gate Leasehold Rights [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		25 years
Gate Leasehold Rights [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		25 years
Domestic Airport Slots [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		25 years
Domestic Airport Slots [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		25 years
Customer Relationships [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		9 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		9 years
Marketing Agreements [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		30 years
Marketing Agreements [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		30 years