Retirement Benefits - Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 1	$ 2	$ 1	$ 2
Interest cost	184	185	369	371
Expected return on assets	(213)	(197)	(426)	(393)
Settlements	1	1	1	3
Prior service cost (benefit)	7	7	14	14
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	28	12	56	23
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	8	10	15	20
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost		1	1	1
Interest cost	184	184	367	369
Expected return on assets	(212)	(196)	(424)	(391)
Settlements	1	1	1	3
Prior service cost (benefit)	7	7	14	14
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	28	12	56	23
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	8	9	15	19
Retiree Medical and Other Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	1	1	2	1
Interest cost	13	16	26	31
Expected return on assets	(5)	(5)	(10)	(10)
Prior service cost (benefit)	(61)	(59)	(121)	(120)
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	(2)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	(54)	(49)	(106)	(102)
Retiree Medical and Other Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost			1
Interest cost	11	14	23	28
Expected return on assets	(5)	(5)	(10)	(10)
Prior service cost (benefit)	(59)	(58)	(119)	(118)
Unrecognized net loss (gain)	(2)	(2)	(4)	(4)
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$ (55)	$ (51)	$ (109)	$ (104)