Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 Lawsuits	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Aircraft shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2015	Dec. 09, 2013 USD ($) shares
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircraft operating under operating leases | Aircraft		438
Operating leases, rent expense		$ 2,800,000,000	$ 2,800,000,000	$ 1,700,000,000
Number of aircraft owned through financing under EETC | Aircraft		263
Number of aircraft operating leased under trusts | Aircraft		138
Disputed claims reserve						$ 755,000,000
Number of putative class action lawsuits | Lawsuits	100
Capacity Purchase Arrangements [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Percentage of reimbursement under variable costs		100.00%
Airbus A320 Family [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2016 | Aircraft		25
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2017 | Aircraft		20
Boeing 787 Family [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2016 | Aircraft		8
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2017 | Aircraft		13
Boeing 737-800 Aircraft [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2016 | Aircraft		15
Boeing 737 MAX Family [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2017 | Aircraft		3
Boeing 777-300 ER [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2016 | Aircraft		2
Common Stock [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Shares reserved for future issuance | shares		25.3	26.8			30.4
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircraft operating under operating leases | Aircraft		427
Operating leases, rent expense		$ 2,700,000,000	$ 2,800,000,000	$ 1,700,000,000
Number of aircraft owned through financing under EETC | Aircraft		263
Number of aircraft operating leased under trusts | Aircraft		138
Disputed claims reserve						$ 755,000,000
Number of putative class action lawsuits | Lawsuits	100
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Airbus A320 Family [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2016 | Aircraft		25
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2017 | Aircraft		20
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Boeing 787 Family [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2016 | Aircraft		8
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2017 | Aircraft		13
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Boeing 737-800 Aircraft [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2016 | Aircraft		15
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Boeing 737 MAX Family [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2017 | Aircraft		3
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Boeing 777-300 ER [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircrafts for which financing commitment not available in 2016 | Aircraft		2
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Shares reserved for future issuance | shares		25.3	26.8			30.4
Non-Pension, Post-Employee Benefits (OPEB) Matter [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Potential loss		$ 212,000,000
Non-Pension, Post-Employee Benefits (OPEB) Matter [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Potential loss		$ 212,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Air Transportation Equipment [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Lessee leasing arrangements, operating leases, remaining term of contract		1 month
Minimum [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Air Transportation Equipment [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Lessee leasing arrangements, operating leases, remaining term of contract		1 month
Maximum [Member] | Air Transportation Equipment [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Lessee leasing arrangements, operating leases, remaining term of contract		12 years
Maximum [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Air Transportation Equipment [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Lessee leasing arrangements, operating leases, remaining term of contract		12 years
Loss from Catastrophes [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Loss contingency, accrual		$ 974,000,000
Loss contingency, receivable		974,000,000
Loss from Catastrophes [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Loss contingency, accrual		974,000,000
Loss contingency, receivable		974,000,000
Revenue Bonds [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Operating leases future minimum payments due leased under trusts		1,800,000,000
Operating lease future payments to repurchase bonds		617,000,000
Revenue Bonds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Operating leases future minimum payments due leased under trusts		1,800,000,000
Operating lease future payments to repurchase bonds		617,000,000
Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
EETC Carrying Value		8,700,000,000
Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
EETC Carrying Value		8,700,000,000
Secured Debt [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Stated interest rate percentage				10.50%
Secured Debt [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		1,100,000,000
Stated interest rate percentage	8.50%				2.00%
Secured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50, Due in 2019 [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		$ 750,000,000
Stated interest rate percentage		5.50%
Secured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.125, Due in 2018 [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate percentage		6.125%
Secured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.625, Due in 2020 [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate percentage		4.625%
Secured Debt [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Stated interest rate percentage				10.50%
Secured Debt [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Stated interest rate percentage	8.50%				2.00%
Secured Debt [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50, Due in 2019 [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		$ 750,000,000
Stated interest rate percentage		5.50%
Secured Debt [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.125, Due in 2018 [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate percentage		6.125%
Secured Debt [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.625, Due in 2020 [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		$ 500,000,000
Stated interest rate percentage		4.625%
Secured Debt, Tax Exempt [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		$ 8,600,000,000