Special Items - Components of Special Items, Net Included in Consolidated Statements of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Merger integration expenses	$ 81	$ 121	$ 273	$ 514	$ 826
Fleet restructuring expenses	58	104	232	177	210
Employee 2017 Tax Act bonus expense	149
Labor contract expenses			46	0	0
Mark-to-market adjustments for bankruptcy obligations			27	25	(53)
Other operating charges (credits), net			11	(7)	68
Special items, net			712	709	1,051
Regional operating special items, net			22	14	29
Operating special items, net			734	723	1,080
Debt refinancing and extinguishment charges			22	49	24
Venezuela foreign currency losses			0	0	592
Other nonoperating charges (credits), net			0	0	(22)
Nonoperating special items, net			22	49	594
Impact of the 2017 Tax Act on deferred tax assets and liabilities	(7)		(7)	0	0
Release of deferred tax valuation allowance			0	0	(3,040)
Other tax charges			0	0	25
Income tax special items, net			(7)	0	(3,015)
Mainline [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Employee 2017 Tax Act bonus expense			123	0	0
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Merger integration expenses	81	121	273	514	826
Fleet restructuring expenses	58	$ 104	232	177	210
Employee 2017 Tax Act bonus expense	123
Labor contract expenses			46	0	0
Mark-to-market adjustments for bankruptcy obligations			27	25	(53)
Other operating charges (credits), net			11	(7)	68
Special items, net			712	709	1,051
Regional operating special items, net			3	13	18
Operating special items, net			715	722	1,069
Debt refinancing and extinguishment charges			22	49	24
Venezuela foreign currency losses			0	0	592
Nonoperating special items, net			22	49	616
Impact of the 2017 Tax Act on deferred tax assets and liabilities	$ 93		93	0	0
Release of deferred tax valuation allowance			0	0	(3,493)
Other tax charges			0	0	25
Income tax special items, net			93	0	(3,468)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Mainline [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Employee 2017 Tax Act bonus expense			$ 123	$ 0	$ 0