Share Based Compensation - Restricted Stock Unit Awards (Details) - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Number of Shares, Beginning Balance (in shares)	4,324	5,187	5,607
Number of Shares, Granted (in shares)	2,194	2,309	2,655
Number of Shares, Vested and released (in shares)	(1,999)	(2,708)	(2,754)
Number of Shares, Forfeited (in shares)	(199)	(464)	(321)
Number of Shares, Ending balance (in shares)	4,320	4,324	5,187
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 46.94	$ 41.48	$ 38.08
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted (in dollars per share)	47.65	48.58	41.34
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested and released (in dollars per share)	44.99	39.63	34.83
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	45.72	44.48	40.15
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 44.29	$ 46.94	$ 41.48
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 111
Recognition period	1 year
Total fair value of stock-settled during the year	$ 91	$ 123	$ 107
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	3 years
Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Number of Shares, Beginning Balance (in shares)	4,324	5,187	5,607
Number of Shares, Granted (in shares)	2,194	2,309	2,655
Number of Shares, Vested and released (in shares)	(1,999)	(2,708)	(2,754)
Number of Shares, Forfeited (in shares)	(199)	(464)	(321)
Number of Shares, Ending balance (in shares)	4,320	4,324	5,187
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 46.94	$ 41.48	$ 38.08
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted (in dollars per share)	47.65	48.58	41.34
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested and released (in dollars per share)	44.99	39.63	34.83
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	45.72	44.48	40.15
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 44.29	$ 46.94	$ 41.48
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 111
Recognition period	1 year
Total fair value of stock-settled during the year	$ 91	$ 123	$ 107

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

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Weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were not exercised or put into effect as a result of the occurrence of a terminating event.

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested during the reporting period.

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Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

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The weighted average fair value as of grant date pertaining to an equity-based award plan other than a stock (or unit) option plan for which the grantee gained the right during the reporting period, by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash in accordance with the terms of the arrangement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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