Employee Benefit Plans - Schedule of Fair Value of Pension Plan Assets by Asset Category (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Private Equity Partnerships [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 21	$ 16	$ 17
Private Equity Partnerships [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	21	16	17
Insurance Group Annuity Contracts [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2	2	2
Insurance Group Annuity Contracts [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2	2	2
Pension Benefits [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	10,017	9,707	10,986
Pension Benefits [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6,508	5,595
Pension Benefits [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,556	3,199
Pension Benefits [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	23	18
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	9,968	9,660	$ 10,935
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6,459	5,548
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,556	3,199
Pension Benefits [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	23	18
Pension Benefits [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	49	47
Pension Benefits [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	49	47
Pension Benefits [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,337	2,204
Pension Benefits [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,337	2,204
Pension Benefits [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,337	2,204
Pension Benefits [Member] | Corporate Bonds [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,337	2,204
Pension Benefits [Member] | Private Equity Partnerships [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	21	16
Pension Benefits [Member] | Private Equity Partnerships [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	21	16
Pension Benefits [Member] | Private Equity Partnerships [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	21	16
Pension Benefits [Member] | Private Equity Partnerships [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	21	16
Pension Benefits [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	573	287
Pension Benefits [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	573	287
Pension Benefits [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	573	287
Pension Benefits [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	573	287
Pension Benefits [Member] | International Markets [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	3,232	2,873
Pension Benefits [Member] | International Markets [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	3,232	2,873
Pension Benefits [Member] | International Markets [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	3,232	2,873
Pension Benefits [Member] | International Markets [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	3,232	2,873
Pension Benefits [Member] | Large-Cap Companies [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,253	1,999
Pension Benefits [Member] | Large-Cap Companies [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,253	1,999
Pension Benefits [Member] | Large-Cap Companies [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,253	1,999
Pension Benefits [Member] | Large-Cap Companies [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,253	1,999
Pension Benefits [Member] | Mid-Cap Companies [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	371	361
Pension Benefits [Member] | Mid-Cap Companies [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	371	361
Pension Benefits [Member] | Mid-Cap Companies [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	371	361
Pension Benefits [Member] | Mid-Cap Companies [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	371	361
Pension Benefits [Member] | Small-Cap Companies [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6	18
Pension Benefits [Member] | Small-Cap Companies [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6	18
Pension Benefits [Member] | Small-Cap Companies [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6	18
Pension Benefits [Member] | Small-Cap Companies [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6	18
Pension Benefits [Member] | Government Securities [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	150	917
Pension Benefits [Member] | Government Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	150	917
Pension Benefits [Member] | Government Securities [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	150	917
Pension Benefits [Member] | Government Securities [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	150	917
Pension Benefits [Member] | U.S. Municipal Securities [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	37	48
Pension Benefits [Member] | U.S. Municipal Securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	37	48
Pension Benefits [Member] | U.S. Municipal Securities [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	37	48
Pension Benefits [Member] | U.S. Municipal Securities [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	37	48
Pension Benefits [Member] | Private Equity Partnerships Measured At Net Asset Value[Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	703	706
Pension Benefits [Member] | Private Equity Partnerships Measured At Net Asset Value[Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	703	706
Pension Benefits [Member] | Common Collective Trusts [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	32	30
Pension Benefits [Member] | Common Collective Trusts [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	32	30
Pension Benefits [Member] | Common Collective Trusts [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	32	30
Pension Benefits [Member] | Common Collective Trusts [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	32	30
Pension Benefits [Member] | Common Collective Trusts and 103-12 Investment Trust Measured at Net Asset Value [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	227	189
Pension Benefits [Member] | Common Collective Trusts and 103-12 Investment Trust Measured at Net Asset Value [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	227	189
Pension Benefits [Member] | Insurance Group Annuity Contracts [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2	2
Pension Benefits [Member] | Insurance Group Annuity Contracts [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2	2
Pension Benefits [Member] | Insurance Group Annuity Contracts [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2	2
Pension Benefits [Member] | Insurance Group Annuity Contracts [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2	2
Pension Benefits [Member] | Dividend and Interest Receivable [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	40	50
Pension Benefits [Member] | Dividend and Interest Receivable [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	40	50
Pension Benefits [Member] | Dividend and Interest Receivable [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	40	50
Pension Benefits [Member] | Dividend and Interest Receivable [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	40	50
Pension Benefits [Member] | Due to/from Brokers for Sale of Securities - Net [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	(9)	23
Pension Benefits [Member] | Due to/from Brokers for Sale of Securities - Net [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	(9)	23
Pension Benefits [Member] | Due to/from Brokers for Sale of Securities - Net [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	(9)	23
Pension Benefits [Member] | Due to/from Brokers for Sale of Securities - Net [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	(9)	23
Pension Benefits [Member] | Other Assets - Net [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		8
Pension Benefits [Member] | Other Assets - Net [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		8
Pension Benefits [Member] | Other Assets - Net [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		8
Pension Benefits [Member] | Other Assets - Net [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		8
Pension Benefits [Member] | Other Liabilities - Net [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	(7)	(71)
Pension Benefits [Member] | Other Liabilities - Net [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	(7)	(71)
Pension Benefits [Member] | Other Liabilities - Net [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	(7)	(71)
Pension Benefits [Member] | Other Liabilities - Net [Member] | American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ (7)	$ (71)