Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Components of Regional Expenses (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes			$ 10,592us-gaap_FuelCosts	$ 7,839us-gaap_FuelCosts	$ 7,705us-gaap_FuelCosts
Salaries, wages and benefits	24us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense		8,508us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	5,460us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	6,217us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Maintenance, materials and repairs			2,051	1,260	1,158
Other rent and landing fees			1,727us-gaap_LandingFeesAndOtherRentals	1,152us-gaap_LandingFeesAndOtherRentals	1,083us-gaap_LandingFeesAndOtherRentals
Aircraft rent			1,250us-gaap_AircraftRental	768us-gaap_AircraftRental	553us-gaap_AircraftRental
Selling expenses			1,544us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense	1,158us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense	1,058us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpense
Depreciation and amortization			1,295us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	853us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	845us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Special items, net	507aal_RestructuringAndOther	2,400aal_RestructuringAndOther	800aal_RestructuringAndOther	559aal_RestructuringAndOther	386aal_RestructuringAndOther
Other			4,118us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	2,969us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	2,674us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Total regional expenses			6,516	3,326	3,028
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes			7,190	7,628	7,705
Salaries, wages and benefits			5,662	5,267	6,208
Maintenance, materials and repairs			1,334	1,222	1,158
Other rent and landing fees			1,145	1,117	1,083
Aircraft rent			860	743	554
Selling expenses			1,091	1,128	1,059
Depreciation and amortization			896	830	845
Special items, net	406	2,100	507	282	386
Other			3,005	2,935	2,696
Total regional expenses			3,113	3,074	3,049
Regional Expenses [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes			2,009	1,120	1,012
Salaries, wages and benefits			1,078	692	681
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers			1,475	269	129
Maintenance, materials and repairs			367	284	285
Other rent and landing fees			419	236	222
Aircraft rent			35	4	6
Selling expenses			307	154	152
Depreciation and amortization			217	168	170
Special items, net			24	8	1
Other			585	391	370
Total regional expenses			6,516	3,326	3,028
Regional Expenses [Member] \| American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Regional Expenses [Line Items]
Aircraft fuel and related taxes			999	1,055	1,012
Salaries, wages and benefits			35	20	33
Capacity purchases from third-party regional carriers			1,253	1,242	1,282
Other rent and landing fees			242	207	203
Selling expenses			151	142	152
Depreciation and amortization			155	149	154
Special items, net			5
Other			273	259	213
Total regional expenses			$ 3,113	$ 3,074	$ 3,049

Capacity Purchases

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- 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.

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- 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.

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- 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

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

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- 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://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-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://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

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

+ References

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of expenditures for salaries, wages, profit sharing and incentive compensation, and other employee benefits, including equity-based compensation, and pension and other postretirement benefit expense.

+ References

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- 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.

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- 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://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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