Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax		$ (1,218)			$ (1,218)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, tax					(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax					10
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax					9
Ending balance, tax	$ (1,209)				(1,209)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax		(5,896)			(5,896)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax					3
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(18)		$ (17)		(34)	$ (33)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(18)	(13)	(15)	$ (18)	(31)	(33)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,927)				(5,927)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax		(4,673)			(4,673)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax					0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax					(44)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax					(44)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,717)				(4,717)
Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax		(5)			(5)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax					4
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax					0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax					4
Ending balance, before tax	(1)				(1)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI tax, attributable to parent [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, tax		(1,329)			(1,329)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, tax					(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax					10
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax					9
Ending balance, tax	(1,320)				(1,320)
AOCI attributable to parent, net of tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, net of tax		(5,992)			(5,992)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, net of tax					3
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(18)		(17)		(34)	(33)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(18)	(13)	$ (15)	$ (18)	(31)	$ (33)
Ending balance, net of tax	(6,023)				(6,023)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax		(4,658)			(4,658)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax					0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax					(44)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax					(44)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,702)				(4,702)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Unrealized Loss on Investments [Member]
AOCI attributable to parent, before tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, before tax		$ (5)			(5)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, before tax					4
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax					0
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax					4
Ending balance, before tax	$ (1)				$ (1)