Fair Value Measurements (Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 8,405		$ 8,111
Restricted cash and short-term investments	947		1,035
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments, mature in more than one year	441	[1],[2]
Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments, mature in more than one year	2,100	[1],[2]
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	8,405	[1],[2]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	947	[1]
Fuel derivative contracts, net	50	[1]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	9,402
Fair Value [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,596	[1],[2]
Fair Value [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	941	[1],[2]
Fair Value [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	99	[1],[2]
Fair Value [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,064	[1],[2]
Fair Value [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	705	[1],[2]
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,596	[1],[2]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	891	[1]
Fuel derivative contracts, net	0	[1]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	4,487
Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,596	[1],[2]
Level 1 [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Level 1 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Level 1 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Level 1 [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	0	[1],[2]
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	4,809	[1],[2]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	56	[1]
Fuel derivative contracts, net	50	[1]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	4,915
Level 2 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Level 2 [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	941	[1],[2]
Level 2 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	99	[1],[2]
Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,064	[1],[2]
Level 2 [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	705	[1],[2]
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	0	[1]
Fuel derivative contracts, net	0	[1]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	0
Level 3 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Level 3 [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	0	[1],[2]
Level 3 [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	0	[1],[2]
AA [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	4,979		5,162
Restricted cash and short-term investments	699		702
AA [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	4,979	[1],[3]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	699	[1]
Fuel derivative contracts, net	50	[1]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	5,728
AA [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	171	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	941	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	99	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	3,064	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Bank Notes/Certificates of Deposit/Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	704	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	171	[1],[3]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	643	[1]
Fuel derivative contracts, net	0	[1]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	814
AA [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	171	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Bank Notes/Certificates of Deposit/Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	4,808	[1],[3]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	56	[1]
Fuel derivative contracts, net	50	[1]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	4,914
AA [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	941	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	99	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	3,064	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Bank Notes/Certificates of Deposit/Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	704	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
Restricted cash and short-term investments	0	[1]
Fuel derivative contracts, net	0	[1]
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	0
AA [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
AA [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Bank Notes/Certificates of Deposit/Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0	[1],[3]
Available-for-sale Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	5,000	[1],[2]
Held-to-maturity Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term investments	3,400
Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrestricted cash balance held in Venezuelan blivars	750
Foreign currency translation exchange rate	6.32
Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | AA [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrestricted cash balance held in Venezuelan blivars	750
Foreign currency translation exchange rate	6.32
4.3 Bolivars per Dollar [Member] | Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrestricted cash balance held in Venezuelan blivars	94
Foreign currency translation exchange rate	4.3
4.3 Bolivars per Dollar [Member] | Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | AA [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrestricted cash balance held in Venezuelan blivars	94
Foreign currency translation exchange rate	4.3
6.3 Bolivars per Dollar [Member] | Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrestricted cash balance held in Venezuelan blivars	611
Foreign currency translation exchange rate	6.3
6.3 Bolivars per Dollar [Member] | Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | AA [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrestricted cash balance held in Venezuelan blivars	611
Foreign currency translation exchange rate	6.3
10.7 Bolivars per Dollar [Member] | Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrestricted cash balance held in Venezuelan blivars	45
Foreign currency translation exchange rate	10.7
10.7 Bolivars per Dollar [Member] | Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | AA [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrestricted cash balance held in Venezuelan blivars	45
Foreign currency translation exchange rate	10.7
Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, including current maturities	16,685		16,799
Carrying Value [Member] | AA [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, including current maturities	10,541		10,809
Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, including current maturities	17,494		17,035
Fair Value [Member] | AA [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, including current maturities	11,032		11,045
Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member] | AA [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	441
Maturity Dates Exceeding One Year [Member] | AA [Member] | Government Agency Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	$ 2,100

[1] Unrealized gains or losses on short-term investments, restricted cash and short-term investments, and derivatives qualifying for hedge accounting are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at each measurement date.

[2] The Company's short-term investments mature in one year or less except $441 million of U.S. government agency investments and $2.1 billion of corporate obligations.

[3] American's short-term investments mature in one year or less except for $441 million of U.S. government agency investments and $2.1 billion of corporate obligations.