Commitments, Contingencies And Guarantees Commitments, Contingencies And Guarantees - Payments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Capacity Purchase Arrangements [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	$ 67	[1]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Two Years	521	[1]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Three Years	670	[1]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Four Years	676	[1]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Five Years	520	[1]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due after Five Years	4,360	[1]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	6,814	[1]
Purchase Commitment [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	371	[2]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Two Years	1,937	[2]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Three Years	1,652	[2]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Four Years	2,008	[2]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Five Years	2,038	[2]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due after Five Years	12,298	[2]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	20,304	[2]
Lease [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due in Next Twelve Months	237
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Two Years	1,018
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Three Years	1,228
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Four Years	1,447
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Five Years	1,673
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due after Five Years	12,385
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation	$ 17,988

[1] These obligations contemplate minimum levels of flying by the third-party airlines under the respective agreements and also reflect assumptions regarding certain costs associated with the minimum levels of flying such as the cost of fuel, insurance, catering, property tax and landing fees. Accordingly, actual payments under these agreements could differ materially from the minimum fixed obligations set forth above.

[2] These amounts are net of purchase deposits currently held by the manufacturers. American has granted Boeing a security interest in American’s purchase deposits with Boeing. The Company’s purchase deposits totaled $709 million as of September 30, 2013.