Share Based Compensation - Stock Option and Stock-Settled SAR Award Activity for All Plans (Detail) - Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights [Member] - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Awards, Beginning Balance (in shares)	11,200	7,007	11,158
Stock Options and SARS, Granted (in shares)	0	0	0
Stock Options and SARS, Exercised (in shares)	(42)	(2,985)	(4,109)
Stock Options and SARS, Forfeited (in shares)	0	0	0
Stock Options and SARS, Expired (in shares)		(9)	(42)
Awards, Ending Balance (in shares)	11,158	4,013	7,007
Stock Options and SARS, Vested or expected to vest (in shares)		4,013
Stock Options and SARS, Exercisable (in shares)		3,996
Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$ 12.84	$ 13.90	$ 12.84
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised (in dollars per share)	14.42	12.09	10.74
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Expired (in dollars per share)		45.75	41.73
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 12.84	15.17	$ 13.90
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Vested or expected to vest (in dollars per share)		15.17
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercisable (in dollars per share)		$ 15.17
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years), Ending Balance		1 year 10 months 24 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years), Vested or expected to vest		1 year 10 months 24 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years), Exercisable		1 year 10 months 24 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Ending balance		$ 111
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Vested or expected to vest		111
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable		$ 110
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Awards, Beginning Balance (in shares)	11,200	7,007	11,158
Stock Options and SARS, Granted (in shares)	0	0	0
Stock Options and SARS, Exercised (in shares)	(42)	(2,985)	(4,109)
Stock Options and SARS, Forfeited (in shares)	0	0	0
Stock Options and SARS, Expired (in shares)		(9)	(42)
Awards, Ending Balance (in shares)	11,158	4,013	7,007
Stock Options and SARS, Vested or expected to vest (in shares)		4,013
Stock Options and SARS, Exercisable (in shares)		3,996
Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$ 12.84	$ 13.90	$ 12.84
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised (in dollars per share)	14.42	12.09	10.74
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	0	0	0
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Expired (in dollars per share)		45.75	41.73
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 12.84	15.17	$ 13.90
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Vested or expected to vest (in dollars per share)		15.17
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercisable (in dollars per share)		$ 15.17
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years), Ending Balance		1 year 10 months 24 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years), Vested or expected to vest		1 year 10 months 24 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years), Exercisable		1 year 10 months 24 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Ending balance		$ 111
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Vested or expected to vest		111
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable		$ 110