Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Regional Expenses (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	$ 7,526	$ 8,053	$ 6,128
Salaries, wages and benefits	12,609	12,251	11,954
Maintenance, materials and repairs	2,380	2,050	1,959
Other rent and landing fees	2,055	1,900	1,806
Aircraft rent	1,326	1,264	1,197
Selling expenses	1,602	1,520	1,477
Depreciation and amortization	1,982	1,839	1,702
Other	5,087	5,088	4,910
Total regional expenses	$ 7,501	7,133	6,546
Republic Holdings [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Ownership interest	25.00%
Regional Carrier [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	$ 1,869	1,843	1,382
Salaries, wages and benefits	1,781	1,591	1,452
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	1,398	1,431	1,581
Maintenance, materials and repairs	403	340	281
Other rent and landing fees	651	610	625
Aircraft rent	29	32	35
Selling expenses	402	369	361
Depreciation and amortization	336	318	315
Special items, net	6	6	22
Other	626	593	492
Total regional expenses	7,501	7,133	6,546
Regional Carrier [Member] \| Republic [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	590	565	544
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	7,526	8,053	6,128
Salaries, wages and benefits	12,600	12,240	11,942
Maintenance, materials and repairs	2,380	2,050	1,959
Other rent and landing fees	2,055	1,900	1,806
Aircraft rent	1,326	1,264	1,197
Selling expenses	1,602	1,520	1,477
Depreciation and amortization	1,982	1,839	1,702
Other	5,090	5,090	4,910
Total regional expenses	$ 7,518	7,064	6,572
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Republic Holdings [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Ownership interest	25.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Regional Carrier [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes	$ 1,869	1,843	1,382
Salaries, wages and benefits	325	338	356
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	3,562	3,267	3,283
Maintenance, materials and repairs	30	8	7
Other rent and landing fees	621	583	602
Aircraft rent	29	27	27
Selling expenses	402	369	361
Depreciation and amortization	286	267	262
Special items, net	0	0	3
Other	394	362	289
Total regional expenses	7,518	7,064	6,572
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Regional Carrier [Member] \| Republic [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers	$ 590	$ 565	$ 544

Capacity Purchases

No definition available.

Name:	aal_CapacityPurchases
Namespace Prefix:	aal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Regional Expenses [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aal_RegionalExpensesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	aal_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Significant and non-routine operating expenses (credits) such as asset impairments and restructuring charges that may not be an indicator of future cash flows.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aal_RestructuringAndOther
Namespace Prefix:	aal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maintenance costs incurred and directly related to services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. Includes the cost of inspections and repairs, materials and routine maintenance costs for all aircraft and engines.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AircraftMaintenanceMaterialsAndRepairs
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expenses incurred related to the lease of aircraft from outside third parties that are used in the entity's business operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AircraftRental
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Costs incurred related to air services provided by third-party transportation companies, including regional affiliates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AirlineCapacityPurchaseArrangements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fuel costs incurred that are directly related to goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FuelCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense for salary, wage, profit sharing; incentive and equity-based compensation; and other employee benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Direct costs incurred at airports in which the entity conducts flight operations. The costs primarily consist of fees paid to the airport authority for takeoff and landing, gate space and facilities, allocations of common space such as security and other terminal costs and fuel storage facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LandingFeesAndOtherRentals
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of other operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate total amount of expenses directly related to the marketing or selling of products or services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=aal_RepublicAirwaysHoldingsInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_RegionalCarrierMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=aal_RepublicAirlineIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: