Special Items - Components of Special Items, Net Included in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Mainline operating special items, net	$ 144		$ 251	$ 447	$ 114
Integration related costs	221		163	437	365
Net contract charges				99
Fair value adjustments for bankruptcy settlement obligations	(68)		38	(73)	5
Equipment lease buyout charges			37		40
Gain related to sale of DCA slots					309
Nonoperating special items, net	(11)			(19)
Non cash interest accretion, bankruptcy settlement obligations			2		33
Non-cash deferred income tax provision	7		7	16	15
Secured Debt Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Gain on sale of investment	22			22
Write off of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs	11			20
Fuel Hedging Contracts [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Non-cash tax provision on sale of fuel hedging contracts			330		330
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Mainline operating special items, net	74		179	272	(37)
Integration related costs	137		99	285	234
Net contract charges				64
Fair value adjustments for bankruptcy settlement obligations	(68)		40	(73)	(16)
Equipment lease buyout charges			26		29
Gain related to sale of DCA slots					305
Nonoperating special items, net	11			3
Non cash interest accretion, bankruptcy settlement obligations					40
Non-cash deferred income tax provision	$ 7		7	15	14
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Write off of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs				20
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Fuel Hedging Contracts [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Non-cash tax provision on sale of fuel hedging contracts			$ 328		$ 328
AAdvantage Loan [Member] | Secured Debt Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Early debt extinguishment gain		$ 17		17
AAdvantage Loan [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Early debt extinguishment gain		$ 17		$ 17