Basis Of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis Of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. Results of operations for the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AMR and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including (i) its principal subsidiary American and (ii) its regional airline subsidiary, AMR Eagle. The condensed consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in AMR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 15, 2012 (2011 Form 10-K). In accordance with GAAP, the Debtors have applied ASC 852 “Reorganizations” (ASC 852), in preparing the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. ASC 852 requires that the financial statements, for periods subsequent to the Chapter 11 Cases, distinguish transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business. Accordingly, certain revenues, expenses (including professional fees), realized gains and losses and provisions for losses that are realized or incurred in the Chapter 11 Cases are recorded in reorganization items, net on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. In addition, prepetition obligations that may be impacted by the Chapter 11 reorganization process have been classified on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in liabilities subject to compromise. These liabilities are reported at the amounts expected to be allowed by the Bankruptcy Court, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts. Certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries were not part of the Chapter 11 filings. Since the non-US subsidiaries not part of the bankruptcy filing do not have significant transactions, we do not separately disclose the condensed combined financial statements of the Debtors in accordance with the requirements of reorganization accounting. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have also been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Debtors be unable to continue as a going concern. As a result of the Chapter 11 Cases, the satisfaction of our liabilities and funding of ongoing operations are subject to uncertainty and, accordingly, there is a substantial doubt of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not purport to reflect or provide for the consequences of the Chapter 11 Cases, other than as set forth under “liabilities subject to compromise” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and “income (loss) before reorganization items” and “reorganization items, net” on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations (see Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements). In particular, the financial statements do not purport to show (1) as to assets, their realizable value on a liquidation basis or their availability to satisfy liabilities; (2) as to prepetition liabilities, the amounts that may be allowed for claims or contingencies, or the status and priority thereof; (3) as to shareowners’ equity accounts, the effect of any changes that may be made to the Debtors’ capitalization; or (4) as to operations, the effect of any changes that may be made to the Debtors’ business.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. Results of operations for the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the entire year. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AMR and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including (i) its principal subsidiary American and (ii) its regional airline subsidiary, AMR Eagle. The condensed consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in AMR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 15, 2012 (2011 Form 10-K).

In accordance with GAAP, the Debtors have applied ASC 852 “Reorganizations” (ASC 852), in preparing the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. ASC 852 requires that the financial statements, for periods subsequent to the Chapter 11 Cases, distinguish transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business. Accordingly, certain revenues, expenses (including professional fees), realized gains and losses and provisions for losses that are realized or incurred in the Chapter 11 Cases are recorded in reorganization items, net on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. In addition, prepetition obligations that may be impacted by the Chapter 11 reorganization process have been classified on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in liabilities subject to compromise. These liabilities are reported at the amounts expected to be allowed by the Bankruptcy Court, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts.

Certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries were not part of the Chapter 11 filings. Since the non-US subsidiaries not part of the bankruptcy filing do not have significant transactions, we do not separately disclose the condensed combined financial statements of the Debtors in accordance with the requirements of reorganization accounting.

These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have also been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Debtors be unable to continue as a going concern.

As a result of the Chapter 11 Cases, the satisfaction of our liabilities and funding of ongoing operations are subject to uncertainty and, accordingly, there is a substantial doubt of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not purport to reflect or provide for the consequences of the Chapter 11 Cases, other than as set forth under “liabilities subject to compromise” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and “income (loss) before reorganization items” and “reorganization items, net” on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations (see Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements). In particular, the financial statements do not purport to show (1) as to assets, their realizable value on a liquidation basis or their availability to satisfy liabilities; (2) as to prepetition liabilities, the amounts that may be allowed for claims or contingencies, or the status and priority thereof; (3) as to shareowners’ equity accounts, the effect of any changes that may be made to the Debtors’ capitalization; or (4) as to operations, the effect of any changes that may be made to the Debtors’ business.