Regional Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
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
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 regional expenses	1,833	1,654	5,323	4,848
Regional Carrier [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	506	352	1,369	999
Salaries, wages and benefits	403	369	1,175	1,074
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	363	404	1,081	1,210
Maintenance, materials and repairs	83	74	251	209
Other rent and landing fees	155	159	455	466
Aircraft rent	8	9	25	26
Selling expenses	94	95	276	269
Depreciation and amortization	76	79	241	235
Special items, net	2	(5)	1	(1)
Other	143	118	449	361
Total regional expenses	1,833	1,654	5,323	4,848
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
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
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 regional expenses	1,810	1,662	5,275	4,860
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Regional Carrier [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	506	352	1,369	999
Salaries, wages and benefits	86	85	254	246
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	817	832	2,440	2,460
Maintenance, materials and repairs	1	2	6	5
Other rent and landing fees	148	152	436	449
Aircraft rent	7	7	20	20
Selling expenses	94	95	275	269
Depreciation and amortization	65	66	200	194
Special items, net	0	(1)	0	3
Other	86	72	275	215
Total regional expenses	$ 1,810	$ 1,662	$ 5,275	$ 4,860

Capacity Purchases

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Regional Expenses [Line Items]

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Significant and non-routine operating expenses (credits) such as asset impairments and restructuring charges that may not be an indicator of future cash flows.

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Maintenance costs incurred and directly related to services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. Includes the cost of inspections and repairs, materials and routine maintenance costs for all aircraft and engines.

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Expenses incurred related to the lease of aircraft from outside third parties that are used in the entity's business operations.

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Costs incurred related to air services provided by third-party transportation companies, including regional affiliates.

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The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

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Fuel costs incurred that are directly related to goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period.

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Amount of expense for salary, wage, profit sharing; incentive and equity-based compensation; and other employee benefit.

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Direct costs incurred at airports in which the entity conducts flight operations. The costs primarily consist of fees paid to the airport authority for takeoff and landing, gate space and facilities, allocations of common space such as security and other terminal costs and fuel storage facilities.

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The total amount of other operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation.

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The aggregate total amount of expenses directly related to the marketing or selling of products or services.

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