Employee Benefit Plans - Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Noncurrent liability	$ 7,497	$ 7,842
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	10	7
Noncurrent liability	6,870	7,214
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets	6,880	7,221
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	89	97
Noncurrent liability	627	628
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets	716	725
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Noncurrent liability	7,452	7,800
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	10	7
Noncurrent liability	6,825	7,173
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets	6,835	7,180
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	88	97
Noncurrent liability	627	627
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets	$ 715	$ 724