Retirement Benefits - Fair Values of Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets by Asset Category (Detail) - Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 253	$ 244
Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	23	2
Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	230	242
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	253	244
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	23	2
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	230	242
Money Market Funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	4	2
Money Market Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	4	2
Money Market Funds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	4	2
Money Market Funds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	4	2
Mutual Funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	230	242
Mutual Funds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	230	242
Mutual Funds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	230	242
Mutual Funds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	230	$ 242
Mutual Funds Institutional Class [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	19
Mutual Funds Institutional Class [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	19
Mutual Funds Institutional Class [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	19
Mutual Funds Institutional Class [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 19