Debt - Components of Long-Term Debt - Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (Detail) - Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] $ in Millions	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) Debt_Instruments	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) Aircraft Debt_Instruments	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($) Aircraft Debt_Instruments	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Aircraft	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 Aircraft
2016-3 EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from debt issuance				$ 109
Number of aircraft financed by debt issuance | Aircraft				2		25
2016-3 EETC Series B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of pass through trusts issued | Debt_Instruments	1
Debt instrument principal amount	$ 193				$ 193
2017-1 EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircraft financed by debt issuance | Aircraft			24
Number of pass through trusts issued | Debt_Instruments			3
Debt instrument principal amount			$ 983
2017-2 EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from debt issuance					735
Number of aircraft financed by debt issuance | Aircraft		30
Number of pass through trusts issued | Debt_Instruments		2
Debt instrument principal amount		$ 797
2017-2 EETC Series B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of pass through trusts issued | Debt_Instruments	1
Debt instrument principal amount	$ 221				221
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 2016-3 EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircraft financed by debt issuance | Aircraft				2		25
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 2016-3 EETC Series B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of pass through trusts issued | Debt_Instruments	1
Debt instrument principal amount	$ 193				193
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 2017-1 EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of aircraft financed by debt issuance | Aircraft			24
Number of pass through trusts issued | Debt_Instruments			3
Debt instrument principal amount			$ 983
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 2017-2 EETC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from debt issuance					735
Number of aircraft financed by debt issuance | Aircraft		30
Number of pass through trusts issued | Debt_Instruments		2
Debt instrument principal amount		$ 797
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 2017-2 EETC Series B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of pass through trusts issued | Debt_Instruments	1
Debt instrument principal amount	$ 221				$ 221