Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 Reporting_Unit Program	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Interest capitalized	$ 61,000,000	$ 47,000,000	$ 50,000,000
Consolidated reporting unit	1
Goodwill impairment	0
Amortization expense	81,000,000	20,000,000	25,000,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets	1,700,000,000	1,800,000,000
Number of frequent traveler programs	2
Frequent flyer liability	2,807,000,000	3,005,000,000
Advertising and promotional expenses	100,000,000	166,000,000	153,000,000
Foreign currency losses	114,000,000	56,000,000	41,000,000
Net proceeds from slot transaction	307,000,000
Gain related to sale	309,000,000	67,000,000
John F. Kennedy Airport [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of slots sold	24
Washington Reagan National Airport [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gain related to sale	309,000,000
LaGuardia Airport Slots [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gain related to sale		67,000,000
Mileage Credits Sale [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	1,500,000,000	1,500,000,000
Marketing Component of Mileage Sales [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other revenues recognized for marketing component of mileage sales at the time of sale	1,400,000,000	834,000,000	725,000,000
Dividend Miles Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	638,000,000	932,000,000
AAdvantage Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	647,000,000	580,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Major Rotable Parts, Avionics and Assemblies [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Residual value percentage of equipment and properties	5.00%
Minimum [Member] | Aircraft [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease terms for equipment and property under capital leases	16 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Leased Equipment and Property [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease terms for equipment and property under capital leases	3 years
Maximum [Member] | Major Rotable Parts, Avionics and Assemblies [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Residual value percentage of equipment and properties	10.00%
Maximum [Member] | Aircraft [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease terms for equipment and property under capital leases	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Leased Equipment and Property [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease terms for equipment and property under capital leases	30 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Interest capitalized	53,000,000	47,000,000	50,000,000
Amortization expense	14,000,000	18,000,000	25,000,000
Indefinite lived intangible assets	743,000,000	755,000,000
Frequent flyer liability	1,823,000,000	1,760,000,000
Advertising and promotional expenses	86,000,000	166,000,000	153,000,000
Foreign currency losses	92,000,000	55,000,000	41,000,000
Net proceeds from slot transaction	299,000,000
Gain related to sale	305,000,000	67,000,000
Non-cash charge	43,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | John F. Kennedy Airport [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of slots sold	24
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Washington Reagan National Airport [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gain related to sale	305,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | LaGuardia Airport Slots [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gain related to sale		67,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Mileage Credits Sale [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	1,200,000,000	1,200,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Marketing Component of Mileage Sales [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other revenues recognized for marketing component of mileage sales at the time of sale	1,100,000,000	816,000,000	725,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | AAdvantage Program [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Frequent flyer liability	647,000,000	580,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Major Rotable Parts, Avionics and Assemblies [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Residual value percentage of equipment and properties	5.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Aircraft [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease terms for equipment and property under capital leases	16 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Other Leased Equipment and Property [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease terms for equipment and property under capital leases	3 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Major Rotable Parts, Avionics and Assemblies [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Residual value percentage of equipment and properties	10.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Aircraft [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease terms for equipment and property under capital leases	30 years
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Other Leased Equipment and Property [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease terms for equipment and property under capital leases	30 years
Relative Selling Price Approach [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other revenue recognized for American's Citibank modification		31,000,000
Relative Selling Price Approach [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other revenue recognized for American's Citibank modification		31,000,000
Gate Lease Rights [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets	25 years
Intangible assets residual value	0
Gate Lease Rights [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets	25 years
Intangible assets residual value	0
Airport Operating Rights [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets	25 years
Intangible assets residual value	0
Airport Operating Rights [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets	25 years
Intangible assets residual value	$ 0
Customer Relationships [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets	9 years
Marketing Agreements [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets	30 years
Tradenames [Member]
Organization Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortized years of intangible assets	15 months