Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Retiree medical plan, plan amendment				$ 1,900,000,000
Amortization period of gains losses related to plan amendment				8 years
Unamortized actuarial gain	$ 871,000,000
Estimated future employer contributions in 2017	25,000,000
Estimated future supplemental employer contributions in 2017	$ 254,000,000
Deferred Profit Sharing [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pre-tax income excluding special items for employee profit sharing, percentage	5.00%
Employee profit sharing program, amount	$ 314,000,000
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
The estimated net gain (loss) that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year	$ (144,000,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Long-term Return on Assets	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Retiree medical plan, plan amendment	$ (7,000,000)
The estimated net gain (loss) that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year	$ 23,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Long-term Return on Assets	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member] | International Companies [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	27.00%	27.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Retiree medical plan, plan amendment				$ 1,900,000,000
Amortization period of gains losses related to plan amendment				8 years
Unamortized actuarial gain	$ 871,000,000
Estimated future employer contributions in 2017	25,000,000
Estimated future supplemental employer contributions in 2017	$ 254,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Deferred Profit Sharing [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pre-tax income excluding special items for employee profit sharing, percentage	5.00%
Employee profit sharing program, amount	$ 314,000,000
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
The estimated net gain (loss) that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year	$ (144,000,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Long-term Return on Assets	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Retiree medical plan, plan amendment	$ (7,000,000)
The estimated net gain (loss) that will be amortized into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year	$ 23,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Long-term Return on Assets	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Retiree Medical And Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member] | International Companies [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	27.00%	27.00%