Investments and Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	$ 5,864	$ 6,309
Restricted cash and short term investments	695	774
Fair value of assets measured on recurring basis	6,559	7,083
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		6,306
Restricted cash and short term investments	695	774
Fair value of assets measured on recurring basis		7,080
Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	2,191	3,927
Corporate Obligations [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		3,927
Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,010	954
Money Market Funds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		951
Government Agency Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1	101
Government Agency Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		101
Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		46
Repurchase Agreements [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		46
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	2,662	1,281
Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		1,281
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,010	954
Restricted cash and short term investments	695	774
Fair value of assets measured on recurring basis	1,705	1,728
Level 1 [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		951
Restricted cash and short term investments		774
Fair value of assets measured on recurring basis		1,725
Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1,010	954
Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		951
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	4,854	5,355
Fair value of assets measured on recurring basis	4,854	5,355
Level 2 [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		5,355
Fair value of assets measured on recurring basis		5,355
Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	2,191	3,927
Level 2 [Member] | Corporate Obligations [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		3,927
Level 2 [Member] | Government Agency Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	1	101
Level 2 [Member] | Government Agency Investments [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		101
Level 2 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		46
Level 2 [Member] | Repurchase Agreements [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		46
Level 2 [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value	$ 2,662	1,281
Level 2 [Member] | Bank Notes / Certificates of Deposit / Time Deposits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets fair value		$ 1,281