Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax	$ (630)	$ (677)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, tax	15	15
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax	19	32
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	34	47
Ending balance, tax	(596)	(630)	$ (677)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax	(5,154)	(5,083)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(51)	(16)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(69)	(55)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(120)	(71)	(351)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,274)	(5,154)	(5,083)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(4,523)	(4,406)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax	(62)	(30)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	(88)	(87)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(150)	(117)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,673)	(4,523)	(4,406)
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(1)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax	(4)	(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(4)	(1)
Ending balance, before tax	(5)	(1)	0
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax	(742)	(788)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, tax	15	14
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax	20	32
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax	35	46
Ending balance, tax	(707)	(742)	(788)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax	(5,251)	(5,182)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	(50)	(14)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(69)	(55)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(119)	(69)	(351)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,370)	(5,251)	(5,182)
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)	(4,394)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax	(61)	(27)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	(89)	(87)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(150)	(114)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,658)	(4,508)	(4,394)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax	(1)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, before tax	(4)	(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax	0	0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(4)	(1)
Ending balance, before tax	$ (5)	$ (1)	$ 0