Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
AOCI, tax
Beginning balance, tax			$ (677)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax			23
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax			23
Ending balance, tax	$ (654)		(654)
AOCI, after tax
Beginning balance, net of tax			(5,083)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, after tax			(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(14)	$ (16)	(43)	$ (48)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(15)	(15)	(44)	(46)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,127)		(5,127)
Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI, before tax
Beginning balance, before tax			(4,406)
Other comprehensive loss, before reclassifications, before tax			(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			(66)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(67)
Ending balance, before tax	(4,473)		(4,473)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]
AOCI, tax
Beginning balance, tax			(788)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, tax			23
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), tax			23
Ending balance, tax	(765)		(765)
AOCI, after tax
Beginning balance, net of tax			(5,182)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications, after tax			(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(14)	(16)	(43)	(49)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(15)	$ (15)	(44)	$ (47)
Ending balance, net of tax	(5,226)		(5,226)
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Pension, Retiree Medical and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
AOCI, before tax
Beginning balance, before tax			(4,394)
Other comprehensive loss, before reclassifications, before tax			(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, before tax			(66)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(67)
Ending balance, before tax	$ (4,461)		$ (4,461)