Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 11,559	$ 10,965	$ 33,603	$ 32,011
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	2,234	1,570	6,100	4,481
Salaries, wages and benefits	3,129	3,030	9,240	8,928
Regional expenses	1,833	1,654	5,323	4,848
Maintenance, materials and repairs	526	487	1,499	1,474
Other rent and landing fees	497	471	1,448	1,363
Aircraft rent	312	304	921	892
Selling expenses	395	400	1,136	1,094
Depreciation and amortization	473	433	1,382	1,255
Special items, net	215	112	563	432
Other	1,296	1,248	3,883	3,652
Total operating expenses	10,910	9,709	31,495	28,419
Operating income	649	1,256	2,108	3,592
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	29	25	84	70
Interest expense, net	(265)	(266)	(795)	(787)
Other income, net	43	48	101	112
Total nonoperating expense, net	(193)	(193)	(610)	(605)
Income before income taxes	456	1,063	1,498	2,987
Income tax provision	115	402	404	1,122
Net income	$ 341	$ 661	$ 1,094	$ 1,865
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 1.36	$ 2.35	$ 3.78
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 1.36	$ 2.34	$ 3.76
Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	460,526	484,772	465,452	493,164
Diluted (in shares)	461,507	486,625	466,908	495,796
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1	$ 0.1	$ 0.3000	$ 0.3
Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 10,561	$ 10,096	$ 30,714	$ 29,447
Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	260	223	748	633
Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	738	646	2,141	1,931
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	11,556	10,962	33,594	32,003
Operating expenses:
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	2,234	1,570	6,100	4,481
Salaries, wages and benefits	3,127	3,027	9,231	8,920
Regional expenses	1,810	1,662	5,275	4,860
Maintenance, materials and repairs	526	487	1,499	1,474
Other rent and landing fees	497	471	1,448	1,363
Aircraft rent	312	304	921	892
Selling expenses	395	400	1,136	1,094
Depreciation and amortization	473	433	1,382	1,255
Special items, net	215	112	563	432
Other	1,298	1,247	3,885	3,652
Total operating expenses	10,887	9,713	31,440	28,423
Operating income	669	1,249	2,154	3,580
Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income	85	56	240	158
Interest expense, net	(262)	(250)	(771)	(738)
Other income, net	44	48	102	112
Total nonoperating expense, net	(133)	(146)	(429)	(468)
Income before income taxes	536	1,103	1,725	3,112
Income tax provision	133	417	467	1,170
Net income	403	686	1,258	1,942
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	10,561	10,096	30,714	29,447
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	260	223	748	633
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 735	$ 643	$ 2,132	$ 1,923