Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Amortizable Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated amortization	$ (447)	$ (373)
Total	496us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	554us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated amortization	(376)	(375)
Total	72	57
Airport Slots [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross	365	332
Airport Slots [Member] \| American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross	310	277
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross	300	300
Marketing Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross	105	105
Tradenames [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross	35	35
Airport Gate Leasehold Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross	138	155
Airport Gate Leasehold Rights [Member] \| American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross	$ 138	$ 155

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aal_AirportGateLeaseholdRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aal_AirportTakeOffAndLandingSlotsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_MarketingRelatedIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: