Share Based Compensation - Schedule of Stock-Settled RSU Award Activity (Detail) - Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) Awards [Member] - $ / shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Number of Shares, Beginning Balance (in shares)	5,607	21,342	23,879
Number of Shares, Granted (in shares)	2,655	2,213	3,467
Number of Shares, Vested and released (in shares)	(2,754)	(17,163)	(4,193)
Number of Shares, Forfeited (in shares)	(321)	(785)	(1,811)
Number of Shares, Ending balance (in shares)	5,187	5,607	21,342
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 38.08	$ 26.43	$ 24.33
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted (in dollars per share)	41.34	46.62	37.07
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested and released (in dollars per share)	34.83	25.20	23.84
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	40.15	27.12	25.10
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 41.48	$ 38.08	$ 26.43
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Number of Shares, Beginning Balance (in shares)	5,607	21,342	23,879
Number of Shares, Granted (in shares)	2,655	2,213	3,467
Number of Shares, Vested and released (in shares)	(2,754)	(17,163)	(4,193)
Number of Shares, Forfeited (in shares)	(321)	(785)	(1,811)
Number of Shares, Ending balance (in shares)	5,187	5,607	21,342
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 38.08	$ 26.43	$ 24.33
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted (in dollars per share)	41.34	46.62	37.07
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested and released (in dollars per share)	34.83	25.20	23.84
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	40.15	27.12	25.10
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Ending balance (in dollars per share)	$ 41.48	$ 38.08	$ 26.43