Debt - Components of Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	$ 18,971us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	$ 17,963us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Less: Total unamortized debt discount	49	59
Less: Current maturities	1,284	1,708
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities	17,638	16,196
Secured Debt Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	17,221	16,713
Secured Debt Member] \| 2013 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,867	1,872
Secured Debt Member] \| 2014 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	750	750
Secured Debt Member] \| Credit Facility, Tranche B-1, Citicorp 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	990	990
Secured Debt Member] \| Credit Facility, Tranche B-2, Citicorp 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	594	594
Secured Debt Member] \| Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	7,912	7,028
Secured Debt Member] \| Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	3,025	2,952
Secured Debt Member] \| Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,100	1,100
Secured Debt Member] \| AAdvantage Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	0	433
Secured Debt Member] \| Other Secured Obligations, Fixed Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	983	994
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,750	1,250
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Senior Notes, 5.50, Due in 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	750	750
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.125, Due in 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	500	500
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Senior Notes, 4.625, Due in 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	500
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	11,805	11,276
Less: Total unamortized debt discount	31	42
Less: Current maturities	802	1,230
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities	10,972	10,004
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	11,778	11,249
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt Member] \| 2013 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,867	1,872
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt Member] \| 2014 Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	750	750
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt Member] \| Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	5,186	4,271
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt Member] \| Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,927	1,860
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt Member] \| Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	1,071	1,071
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt Member] \| AAdvantage Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	0	433
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Secured Debt Member] \| Other Secured Obligations, Fixed Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	977	992
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	27	27
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Affiliate Unsecured Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations	$ 27	$ 27

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

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

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

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- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section H

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Amount of long-term debt and capital leases due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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