Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 01, 2018	Jan. 01, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease liabilities	$ 9,556								$ 9,556
Operating lease right-of-use assets	9,151				$ 0				9,151	$ 0
Restricted cash included in restricted cash and short-term investments	11				103				11	103	$ 113
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	10,938	$ 11,559	$ 11,643	$ 10,401	10,611	$ 10,965	$ 11,227	$ 9,820	44,541	42,622	40,142
Total operating expenses	10,367	10,874	10,639	10,005	9,973	9,709	9,628	9,083	41,885	38,391	35,082
Operating income	571	685	1,004	396	638	1,256	1,599	737	2,656	4,231	5,060
Total nonoperating expense, net									(772)	(836)	(908)
Income before income taxes									1,884	3,395	4,152
Income tax provision									472	2,113	1,568
Net income	$ 325	$ 372	$ 556	$ 159	$ (583)	$ 661	$ 864	$ 340	$ 1,412	$ 1,282	$ 2,584
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.81	$ 1.20	$ 0.34	$ (1.22)	$ 1.36	$ 1.75	$ 0.67	$ 3.03	$ 2.61	$ 4.65
Impact of Tax Act, charge to reduce deferred tax assets					$ 823				$ 0	$ 823	$ 0
Deferred tax asset	$ 1,145				1,816				1,145	1,816
Noncurrent loyalty program liability	5,272				5,701				5,272	5,701
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	(169)				(780)				(169)	(780)	(284)			$ 5,635
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease liabilities												$ 10,000
Operating lease right-of-use assets												10,000
Cumulative effect adjustment												197
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment												60
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment													$ (3,977)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease liabilities	9,496								9,496
Operating lease right-of-use assets	9,094				0				9,094	0
Restricted cash included in restricted cash and short-term investments	11				103				11	103	113
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	10,936	$ 11,556	$ 11,640	$ 10,398	10,607	$ 10,962	$ 11,224	$ 9,817	44,530	42,610	40,125
Total operating expenses	10,344	10,850	10,626	9,986	9,982	9,713	9,633	9,077	41,807	38,405	35,045
Operating income	592	706	1,014	412	625	1,249	1,591	740	2,723	4,205	5,080
Total nonoperating expense, net									(531)	(650)	(784)
Income before income taxes									2,192	3,555	4,296
Income tax provision									534	2,270	1,607
Net income	407	$ 433	$ 609	$ 209	(658)	$ 686	$ 888	$ 369	1,658	1,285	2,689
Impact of Tax Act, charge to reduce deferred tax assets					924				0	924	0
Deferred tax asset	1,280				2,071				1,280	2,071
Noncurrent loyalty program liability	5,272				5,701				5,272	5,701
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	11,770				9,888				11,770	9,888	8,580			9,698
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease liabilities												10,000
Operating lease right-of-use assets												10,000
Cumulative effect adjustment												197
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment												60
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment													(3,977)
Previously Reported [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										42,207	40,180
Total operating expenses										38,149	34,896
Operating income										4,058	5,284
Total nonoperating expense, net										(974)	(985)
Income before income taxes										3,084	4,299
Income tax provision										1,165	1,623
Net income										$ 1,919	$ 2,676
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)										$ 3.90	$ 4.81
Deferred tax asset					427					$ 427
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)					3,926					3,926
Previously Reported [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										42,195	$ 40,163
Total operating expenses										38,163	34,859
Operating income										4,032	5,304
Total nonoperating expense, net										(788)	(861)
Income before income taxes										3,244	4,443
Income tax provision										1,322	1,662
Net income										1,922	2,781
Deferred tax asset					682					682
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)					14,594					14,594
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Operating revenues:
Deferred tax asset					1,389					1,389
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)					(4,706)					(4,706)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Deferred Revenue Method [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										311	(147)
Operating income										311	(147)
Income before income taxes										311	(147)
Income tax provision										948	(55)
Net income										(637)	(92)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Gross Versus Net Presentation [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										104	109
Total operating expenses										104	109
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating expenses										138	77
Operating income										(138)	(77)
Total nonoperating expense, net										138	77
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Operating revenues:
Deferred tax asset					1,389					1,389
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)					(4,706)					(4,706)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Deferred Revenue Method [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										311	(147)
Operating income										311	(147)
Income before income taxes										311	(147)
Income tax provision										948	(55)
Net income										(637)	(92)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Gross Versus Net Presentation [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										104	109
Total operating expenses										104	109
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating expenses										138	77
Operating income										(138)	(77)
Total nonoperating expense, net										138	77
Passenger [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									40,676	39,131	37,045
Passenger [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									40,676	39,131	37,045
Passenger [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										36,133	34,579
Passenger [Member] | Previously Reported [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										36,133	34,579
Passenger [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Deferred Revenue Method [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										311	(147)
Passenger [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Ancillary Revenue Reclassifications [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										2,648	2,571
Passenger [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Gross Versus Net Presentation [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										39	42
Passenger [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Deferred Revenue Method [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										311	(147)
Passenger [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Ancillary Revenue Reclassifications [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										2,648	2,571
Passenger [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Gross Versus Net Presentation [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										39	42
Cargo [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									1,013	890	785
Cargo [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									1,013	890	785
Cargo [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										800	700
Cargo [Member] | Previously Reported [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										800	700
Cargo [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Ancillary Revenue Reclassifications [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										42	36
Cargo [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Gross Versus Net Presentation [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										48	49
Cargo [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Ancillary Revenue Reclassifications [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										42	36
Cargo [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Gross Versus Net Presentation [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										48	49
Other [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									2,852	2,601	2,312
Other [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									2,841	2,589	2,295
Other [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										5,274	4,901
Other [Member] | Previously Reported [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										5,262	4,884
Other [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Ancillary Revenue Reclassifications [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										(2,690)	(2,607)
Other [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Gross Versus Net Presentation [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										17	18
Other [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Ancillary Revenue Reclassifications [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										(2,690)	(2,607)
Other [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Gross Versus Net Presentation [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues										17	18
Air traffic [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities	4,339				4,042				4,339	4,042
Air traffic [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities	4,339				4,042				4,339	4,042
Air traffic [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities					3,978					3,978
Air traffic [Member] | Previously Reported [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities					3,978					3,978
Air traffic [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities					64					64
Air traffic [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities					64					64
Loyalty program [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities	3,267				3,121				3,267	3,121
Noncurrent loyalty program liability					5,701					5,701
Loyalty program [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities	3,267				3,121				3,267	3,121
Noncurrent loyalty program liability					5,701					5,701
Loyalty program [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities					2,791					2,791
Noncurrent loyalty program liability					0					0
Loyalty program [Member] | Previously Reported [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities					2,791					2,791
Noncurrent loyalty program liability					0					0
Loyalty program [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities					330					330
Noncurrent loyalty program liability					5,701					5,701
Loyalty program [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Operating revenues:
Customer liabilities					330					330
Noncurrent loyalty program liability					5,701					5,701
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member]
Operating revenues:
Net income									1,412	1,282	2,584
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	136				(1,345)				136	(1,345)	(2,429)			(1,230)
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment												197
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment												60
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment													(3,977)
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Operating revenues:
Net income									1,658	1,285	2,689
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)	$ 338				$ (1,577)				$ 338	$ (1,577)	$ (2,862)			$ (1,992)
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment												197
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment												$ 60
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative effect adjustment													$ (3,977)