Special Items, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Fleet restructuring expenses	$ 109	$ 62	$ 275	$ 174
Merger integration expenses	68	62	188	192
Severance expenses	20	0	20	0
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net	17	(12)	(39)	7
Litigation settlement	0	0	45	0
Intangible asset impairment	0	0	26	0
Labor contract expenses	0	0	13	45
Other operating charges, net	1	0	35	14
Mainline operating special items, net	215	112	563	432
Regional operating special items, net	2	(5)	1	(1)
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity investments, net	15	0	82	0
Debt refinancing and extinguishment charges	0	3	13	12
Nonoperating special items, net	15	3	95	12
Income tax special items, net	0	0	40	0
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Income tax special items, net			18
Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Change in deferred tax assets valuation allowance			22
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Fleet restructuring expenses	109	62	275	174
Merger integration expenses	68	62	188	192
Severance expenses	20	0	20	0
Mark-to-market adjustments on bankruptcy obligations, net	17	(12)	(39)	7
Litigation settlement	0	0	45	0
Intangible asset impairment	0	0	26	0
Labor contract expenses	0	0	13	45
Other operating charges, net	1	0	35	14
Mainline operating special items, net	215	112	563	432
Regional operating special items, net	0	(1)	0	3
Mark-to-market adjustments on equity investments, net	15	0	82	0
Debt refinancing and extinguishment charges	0	3	13	12
Nonoperating special items, net	15	3	95	12
Income tax special items, net	$ 0	$ 0	48	$ 0
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Income tax special items, net			18
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Change in deferred tax assets valuation allowance			$ 30