Valuation and Qualifying Accounts - Components of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Allowance for Obsolescence of Inventories [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 673	$ 547	$ 546
Changes charged to statement of operations accounts	50	142	24
Write-offs (net of recoveries)	(4)	(4)	(23)
Sales, retirements and transfers	9	(12)
Balance at end of year	728	673	547
Allowance for Obsolescence of Inventories [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	638	504	607
Changes charged to statement of operations accounts	42	135	22
Write-offs (net of recoveries)		(2)	(125)
Sales, retirements and transfers	9	1
Balance at end of year	689	638	504
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	17	41	44
Changes charged to statement of operations accounts	46	6	3
Write-offs (net of recoveries)	(22)	(30)	(6)
Balance at end of year	41	17	41
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	14	40	49
Changes charged to statement of operations accounts	45	3	2
Write-offs (net of recoveries)	(22)	(29)	(11)
Balance at end of year	37	14	40
Reserves for Environmental Remediation Costs [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	10	11	13
Changes charged to statement of operations accounts			2
Payments	(1)	(1)	(1)
Write-offs (net of recoveries)			(3)
Balance at end of year	9	10	11
Reserves for Environmental Remediation Costs [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	10	11	13
Changes charged to statement of operations accounts			2
Payments	(1)	(1)	(1)
Write-offs (net of recoveries)			(3)
Balance at end of year	$ 9	$ 10	$ 11