Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Reporting_Unit $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus		2017
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Consolidated reporting unit | Reporting_Unit		1
Goodwill		$ 4,091,000,000	$ 4,091,000,000
Amortization expense		44,000,000	76,000,000	$ 55,000,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets		1,900,000,000	1,800,000,000
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)		0
Current loyalty program liability		2,791,000,000	2,789,000,000
Air traffic liability		3,978,000,000	3,912,000,000
Advertising and promotional expenses		135,000,000	116,000,000	110,000,000
Foreign currency gains (losses)		(4,000,000)	1,000,000	(751,000,000)
Mileage Credits Sale [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Current loyalty program liability		2,100,000,000	2,100,000,000
Marketing Component of Mileage Sales [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other revenues recognized for marketing component of mileage sales at the time of sale		2,200,000,000	1,900,000,000	1,700,000,000
AAdvantage Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Current loyalty program liability		$ 677,000,000	$ 669,000,000
Venezuelan [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Venezuela foreign currency losses				592,000,000
Gate Leasehold Rights [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		25 years
Domestic Airport Slots [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		25 years
Customer Relationships [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		9 years
Marketing Agreements [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		30 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus		2017
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 1	$ 1
Consolidated reporting unit | Reporting_Unit		1
Goodwill		$ 4,091,000,000	$ 4,091,000,000
Amortization expense		44,000,000	76,000,000	55,000,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets		1,900,000,000	1,800,000,000
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)		0
Current loyalty program liability		2,791,000,000	2,789,000,000
Air traffic liability		3,978,000,000	3,912,000,000
Advertising and promotional expenses		135,000,000	116,000,000	110,000,000
Foreign currency gains (losses)		(4,000,000)	1,000,000	(751,000,000)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Mileage Credits Sale [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Current loyalty program liability		2,100,000,000	2,100,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Marketing Component of Mileage Sales [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other revenues recognized for marketing component of mileage sales at the time of sale		2,200,000,000	1,900,000,000	$ 1,700,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | AAdvantage Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Current loyalty program liability		$ 677,000,000	$ 669,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Venezuelan [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Venezuela foreign currency losses	$ 592,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Gate Leasehold Rights [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		25 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Domestic Airport Slots [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		25 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		9 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Marketing Agreements [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets		30 years