Revenue Recognition - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) component	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenue	$ 694	$ 632
Loyalty program [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Number of revenue components \| component	2
Recognition of revenue	$ 901
Loyalty program [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract duration	1 year
Loyalty program [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract duration	9 years
Loyalty revenue - marketing services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenue	$ 570	514
Air traffic liability [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract duration	1 year
Recognition of revenue	$ 2,100
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenue	$ 691	629
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Loyalty program [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Number of revenue components \| component	2
Recognition of revenue	$ 901
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Loyalty program [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract duration	1 year
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Loyalty program [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract duration	9 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Loyalty revenue - marketing services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Other revenue	$ 570	$ 514
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Air traffic liability [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract duration	1 year
Recognition of revenue	$ 2,100

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Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913847&loc=SL49130549-203045

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173487&loc=SL51747714-108306

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+ References

No definition available.

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Amount, after sales adjustments, returns, allowances, and discounts, of revenue classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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Period in which remaining performance obligation is expected to be recognized as revenue, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents 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 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913847&loc=SL49130556-203045

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173487&loc=SL51747714-108306

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