Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - Recurring [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 6,037	$ 5,864
Restricted cash and short-term investments	638	695
Total	6,675	6,559
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	589	1,010
Restricted cash and short-term investments	638	695
Total	1,227	1,705
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	5,448	4,854
Total	5,448	4,854
Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	589	1,010
Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	589	1,010
Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,550	2,191
Corporate Bonds [Member] | Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	230	734
Corporate Bonds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,550	2,191
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,898	2,662
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	385	1,200
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,898	2,662
Government Agency Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments		1
Government Agency Investments [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments		1
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	6,034	5,862
Restricted cash and short-term investments	638	695
Total	6,672	6,557
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	587	1,008
Restricted cash and short-term investments	638	695
Total	1,225	1,703
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	5,447	4,854
Total	5,447	4,854
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	587	1,008
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	587	1,008
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,550	2,191
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	230	734
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,550	2,191
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	2,897	2,662
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	385	1,200
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 2,897	2,662
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Government Agency Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments		1
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Government Agency Investments [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments		$ 1