Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of AOCI (Loss) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax	$ (630)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, tax	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax	5
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	5
Ending balance, tax	(625)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax	(5,154)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(2)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	16	$ 14
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(18)	(14)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,172)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(4,523)
Other comprehensive loss, before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	(21)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(21)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,544)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(1)
Other comprehensive loss, before reclassifications, before tax	(2)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(2)
Ending balance, before tax	(3)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax	(742)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, tax	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax	5
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	5
Ending balance, tax	(737)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax	(5,251)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax	(2)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	16	14
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(18)	$ (14)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,269)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(4,508)
Other comprehensive loss, before reclassifications, before tax	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	(21)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(21)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,529)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(1)
Other comprehensive loss, before reclassifications, before tax	(2)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(2)
Ending balance, before tax	$ (3)