Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended						0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 04, 2011	Jan. 25, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member] American [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 7.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2016 [Member] American [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Series A Equipment Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Series B Equipment Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Minimum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 Boeing 737-823 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 737-823 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 737-823 [Member] AMR Eagle's Secured Debt [Member] American [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Boeing 737-800 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 737-800 [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 Boeing 757-223 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 757-223 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 757-223 [Member] AMR Eagle's Secured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 767-323ER [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 767-323ER [Member] AMR Eagle's Secured Debt [Member]	Oct. 04, 2011 Boeing 777-223ER [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 777-223ER [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Boeing 777-223ER [Member] AMR Eagle's Secured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 AMR Eagle's Secured Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 AMR Eagle's Secured Debt [Member] AMR & American [Member]
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2011			$ 1,100,000,000
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2012			1,700,000,000
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2013			1,000,000,000
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2014			1,500,000,000
Maturities of long-term debt, remainder of 2015			778,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2011			309,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2012			1,100,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2013			1,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2014			861,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2015			703,000,000
Future minimum lease payments required under operating lease, remainder of 2016 and beyond			6,300,000,000
Issued guarantees covering secured bond, tax exempt			1,600,000,000
Issued guarantees covering secured debt			2,700,000,000
Issued guarantees covering unsecured debt			848,000,000																								1,500,000,000	170,000,000
Proceeds expected to be received from sale of certificates																											59,000,000
Guarantees of American leases of certain super ATR aircraft			115,000,000
Closed offering of Class A and Class B Trust Certificates	726,000,000	657,000,000
Number of aircrafts delivered														14	15	15	35	2	14	6	2	2	2	13	7	7
Number of aircraft encumbered by private mortgages or liens			27
Debt instrument interest percentage	8.625%					7.50%	7.50%	7.50%		5.25%	7.00%
Proceeds from sale certificates																											598,000,000
Long-term debt			$ 10,926,000,000	$ 10,532,000,000		$ 1,000,000,000			$ 1,000,000,000
Debt instrument maturity years						2016		2016
Senior secured notes redemption price percentage			100.00%		103.00%
Percentage of maximum, aggregate principal equity amount			35.00%
Proceed from equity offerings redemption price percentage			107.50%
Percentage of aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes			10.00%
Indebtedness collateral ratio												1.0	1.5
Percentage of additional interest on notes			2.00%