Finance Assets, Net (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 American Airlines, Inc. [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 American Airlines, Inc. [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 American Airlines, Inc. [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 American Airlines, Inc. [Member]	Jul. 19, 2012 American Airlines, Inc. [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 American Airlines, Inc. [Member] Aircraft [Member]	Feb. 10, 2012 American Airlines, Inc. [Member] Aircraft [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Finance Leases [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Interest On Tax Underpayments [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Interest On Tax Underpayments [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Interest On Tax Underpayments [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Interest On Tax Underpayments [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Reduction To Cumulative Lease Earnings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Reduction To Cumulative Lease Earnings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Reduction To Cumulative Lease Earnings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Reduction To Cumulative Lease Earnings [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Financial Services Assets Lease Receivables, net	$ 3,012		$ 3,012		$ 3,559
Permanent Charge For Interest On Tax Underpayments		50.00%
Leveraged Lease (Benefit) Charge	(68)	627	(68)	627											(73)	312	(73)	312	5	315	5	315
Percentage of reduction in cumulative lease earnings		50.00%
Gross investments in finance leases	3,200		3,200		3,786									3,171
Other receivable	29		29
Investments in financial leases, allowance for losses	188	202	188	202	227	202
Financial Services Assets Lease Receivables Increase (Decrease) To Allowance			(10)	0
Number of aircraft leases												28
Investment in finance leases										140
Number of leases rejected													9
Number of terminated leases								1
Allowance for losses written-off on investments in finance leases			29	0				6	23
Bankruptcy Court Approved Aircraft Sale Back To Leasee											10
Deferred taxes subject to acceleration in the event of foreclosure									12
Additional Write Off To Allowance For Losses Account							60
Amount of Accelerated Deferred taxes Resulting From Bankruptcy Court Order							$ 10