Income Taxes [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	aal_IncomeTaxesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	aal_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards that are subject to expiration dates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsSubjectToExpiration
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a),(b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32639-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of operating loss carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32559-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the tax credit carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis=aal_AlternativeMinimumTaxCreditCarryforwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax provision (benefit)	$ 488	$ 543	$ 619	$ 960
Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards					$ 339
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax provision (benefit)	$ 502	$ 556	$ 650	$ 980
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards					452
Federal [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Gross NOL Carryforwards					10,500
Federal [Member] \| American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Gross NOL Carryforwards					11,300
State [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
NOL subject to expiration					3,700
State [Member] \| American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Gross NOL Carryforwards					$ 3,400