Special Items - Additional Disclosures (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Operating special items, net		$ 450		$ 709	$ 1,051	$ 800
Merger integration expenses	$ 121			514	826	732
Fair value adjustments for bankruptcy settlement obligations	(47)			(25)	53	(81)
Fleet restructuring expenses	104			177	210	88
Revision of prior estimates aircraft residual values and other asset impairments						81
Gain related to sale of DCA slots						265
Nonoperating special items, net				49	594	132
Foreign currency losses				1	(751)	(114)
Income tax special items, net					(3,015)	346
Reversal of valuation allowance					3,000
Non-cash tax provision on sale of fuel hedging contracts			$ 330
Regional Carrier [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Operating special items, net				14	29	24
Fuel Hedging Contracts [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Non-cash tax provision on sale of fuel hedging contracts			330			330
Venezuelan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Nonoperating special items, net		592			592
Foreign currency losses						(43)
7.50% Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Early debt extinguishment gain (cost)						$ (56)
Stated interest rate percentage (percent)						7.50%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Operating special items, net		447		709	1,051	$ 783
Merger integration expenses	121			514	826	732
Fair value adjustments for bankruptcy settlement obligations	(47)			(25)	53	(60)
Fleet restructuring expenses	$ 104			177	210	88
Revision of prior estimates aircraft residual values and other asset impairments						81
Gain related to sale of DCA slots						265
Nonoperating special items, net				49	616	128
Foreign currency losses				1	(751)	(114)
Income tax special items, net					(3,468)	344
Reversal of valuation allowance					3,500
Non-cash tax provision on sale of fuel hedging contracts			328
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Regional Carrier [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Operating special items, net				$ 13	18	5
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Fuel Hedging Contracts [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Non-cash tax provision on sale of fuel hedging contracts			$ 328			328
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Venezuelan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Nonoperating special items, net		$ 592			$ 592
Foreign currency losses						(43)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | 7.50% Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Early debt extinguishment gain (cost)						$ (56)
Stated interest rate percentage (percent)						7.50%