Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Amount of cash outflow to satisfy an employee's income tax withholding obligation as part of a net-share settlement of a share-based award.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 19A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96949009&loc=SL79513924-113897

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3291-108585

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- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
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- Definition

For net-share settlement of share-based awards when the employer settles employees' income tax withholding obligations, this element represents the number of shares the employees use to repay the employer.

+ References

No definition available.

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Share Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation costs	$ 90	$ 102	$ 274
Common stock shares withheld or sold related to tax obligations	1,100,000	1,400,000	7,000,000
Payment of certain tax withholding obligations associated with employee equity awards	$ 51	$ 56	$ 306
Special Items, Net [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation costs			198
AAG Incentive Award Plan 2013 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total shares available for grant under 2013 Plan				40,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation costs	$ 90	$ 102	$ 274
Common stock shares withheld or sold related to tax obligations	1,100,000	1,400,000	7,000,000
Payment of certain tax withholding obligations associated with employee equity awards	$ 51	$ 56	$ 306
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Special Items, Net [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation costs			$ 198
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| AAG Incentive Award Plan 2013 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total shares available for grant under 2013 Plan				40,000,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
RSU, vesting period (in years)	3 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
RSU, vesting period (in years)	3 years