Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 Lawsuits	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Employees Aircraft shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircraft operating under operating leases | Aircraft		419
Operating leases, rent expense		$ 2,800	$ 2,800	$ 2,800
Number of aircraft owned through financing under EETC | Aircraft		346
Number of aircraft operating leased under trusts | Aircraft		138
Operating leases future minimum payments		$ 12,727
Shares reserved for future issuance | shares		25.2
Number of putative class action lawsuits | Lawsuits	100
Number of full-time equivalent employees | Employees		122,300
Percentage of employees covered by collective bargaining agreements with various labor unions		85.00%
Regional Carrier [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of full-time equivalent employees | Employees		20,800
Capacity Purchase Arrangements [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Percentage of reimbursement under variable costs		100.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of aircraft operating under operating leases | Aircraft		408
Operating leases, rent expense		$ 2,700	$ 2,700	$ 2,800
Number of aircraft owned through financing under EETC | Aircraft		346
Number of aircraft operating leased under trusts | Aircraft		138
Operating leases future minimum payments		$ 12,701
Number of putative class action lawsuits | Lawsuits	100
Number of full-time equivalent employees | Employees		101,500
Percentage of employees covered by collective bargaining agreements with various labor unions		84.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Capacity Purchase Arrangements [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Percentage of reimbursement under variable costs		100.00%
EETC Leveraged Lease Financings [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Operating leases future minimum payments		$ 1,500
EETC Leveraged Lease Financings [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Operating leases future minimum payments		1,500
Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Operating leases future minimum payments		605
Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Operating leases future minimum payments		605
Loss from Catastrophes [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Loss contingency, accrual		974
Loss contingency, receivable		974
Loss from Catastrophes [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Loss contingency, accrual		974
Loss contingency, receivable		$ 974
Minimum [Member] | Air Transportation Equipment [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Lessee leasing arrangements, operating leases, remaining term of contract		3 years
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		3 months
Maximum [Member] | Air Transportation Equipment [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Lessee leasing arrangements, operating leases, remaining term of contract		11 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		11 years
Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
EETC Carrying Value		$ 10,900
Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
EETC Carrying Value		10,900
Secured Debt [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		844
Credit Facilities And Certain EETC Financings [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		9,300
Unsecured Debt [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 5.50% Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		750
Unsecured Debt [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 6.125% Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		500
Unsecured Debt [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 4.625% Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, maximum exposure, undiscounted		$ 500