Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) component Reporting_Unit $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01				$ 0.01				$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Consolidated reporting unit | Reporting_Unit									1
Goodwill impairment									$ 0
Goodwill	$ 4,091				$ 4,091				4,091	$ 4,091
Indefinite lived intangible assets	1,900				1,900				1,900	1,900
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)			$ 26
Operating revenues	$ 10,938	$ 11,559	11,643	$ 10,401	$ 10,611	$ 10,965	$ 11,227	$ 9,820	$ 44,541	42,622	$ 40,142
Contract receivables settlement duration									7 days
Advertising expense									$ 128	135	116
Foreign currency gains (losses)									$ (55)	(4)	1
Loyalty program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contract term									one to nine
Payment term									30 days
Number of revenue components | component									2
Recognition of revenue									$ 3,366
Loyalty revenue - marketing services [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Operating revenues									$ 2,352	$ 2,124	1,872
Air traffic [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contract term									one year
Recognition of revenue									$ 3,100
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 1.00				$ 1				$ 1.00	$ 1
Consolidated reporting unit | Reporting_Unit									1
Goodwill impairment									$ 0
Goodwill	$ 4,091				$ 4,091				4,091	$ 4,091
Indefinite lived intangible assets	1,900				1,900				1,900	1,900
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)			26
Operating revenues	$ 10,936	$ 11,556	$ 11,640	$ 10,398	$ 10,607	$ 10,962	$ 11,224	$ 9,817	$ 44,530	42,610	40,125
Contract receivables settlement duration									7 days
Advertising expense									$ 128	135	116
Foreign currency gains (losses)									$ (54)	(4)	1
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Loyalty program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contract term									one to nine years
Payment term									30 days
Number of revenue components | component									2
Recognition of revenue									$ 3,366
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Loyalty revenue - marketing services [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Operating revenues									$ 2,352	$ 2,124	$ 1,872
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Air traffic [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Contract term									one year
Recognition of revenue									$ 3,100