Indebtedness and Leases (Schedule Of Collateral Coverage Tests) (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 aircraft
10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	43%; failure to meet collateral test requires posting of additional collateral
LTV Requirement rate (percent)	43.00%
LTV as of Last Measurement Date (percent)	56.60%
Number of aircraft collateralized (aircraft)	143
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	1.5x Collateral valuation to amount of debt outstanding (67% LTV); failure to meet collateral test results in American paying 2% additional interest until the ratio is at least 1.5x; additional collateral can be posted to meet this requirement
LTV Requirement rate (percent)	67.00%
LTV multiplier, collateral valuation to debt outstanding	150.00%
LTV penalty for not meeting requirements, increase in interest rate (percent)	2.00%
LTV as of Last Measurement Date (percent)	38.70%
Collateral Description	Generally, certain route authorities, take-off and landing slots, and rights to airport facilities used by American to operate certain services between the U.S. and London Heathrow, Tokyo Narita/Haneda, and China
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
LTV Requirement	1.6x Collateral valuation to amount of debt outstanding (62.5% LTV); failure to meet collateral test results in American either providing additional collateral or repaying a portion of the Credit Facilities until the ratio is met
LTV Requirement rate (percent)	62.50%
LTV multiplier, collateral valuation to debt outstanding	160.00%
LTV as of Last Measurement Date (percent)	18.50%
Collateral Description	Generally, certain route authorities, take-off and landing slots, and rights to airport facilities used by American to operate all services between the U.S. and South America
MD-80 [Member] | 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircraft collateralized (aircraft)	74
B757-200 [Member] | 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircraft collateralized (aircraft)	41
B767-200ER [Member] | 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircraft collateralized (aircraft)	3
B767-300ER [Member] | 10.5% Senior Secured Notes Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircraft collateralized (aircraft)	25