Debt - Details of 2017 Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (Detail) - Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Series 2017-2 Class AA [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 545
Debt instrument, remaining escrowed proceeds	$ 372
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	3.35%
Series 2017-2 Class A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 252
Debt instrument, remaining escrowed proceeds	$ 172
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	3.60%
Series 2017-1 Class AA [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 537
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	3.65%
Series 2017-1 Class A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 248
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	4.00%
Series 2017-1 Class B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 198
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	4.95%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Series 2017-2 Class AA [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 545
Debt instrument, remaining escrowed proceeds	$ 372
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	3.35%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Series 2017-2 Class A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 252
Debt instrument, remaining escrowed proceeds	$ 172
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	3.60%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Series 2017-1 Class AA [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 537
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	3.65%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Series 2017-1 Class A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 248
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	4.00%
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] \| Series 2017-1 Class B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal issued	$ 198
Debt instrument, stated interest rate percentage	4.95%

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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