v3.8.0.1
Debt - Components of Long-Term Debt (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 25,301 $ 24,573
Less: Total unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs 236 229
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases 2,554 1,855
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities 22,511 22,489
Secured Debt [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations 23,551 22,823
Secured Debt [Member] | Credit Facility 2013 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 1,825 1,843
Interest rate 3.55%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Credit Facility 2014 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 728 735
Interest rate 3.43%  
Secured Debt [Member] | April 2016 Credit Facilities [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 990 1,000
Interest rate 3.57%  
Secured Debt [Member] | December 2016 Credit Facilities [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 1,238 1,250
Interest rate 3.48%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 11,881 10,912
Average interest rate 4.30%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 3.00%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 9.75%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 5,259 5,343
Average interest rate 3.29%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 2.34%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 8.48%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 857 891
Secured Debt [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 5.00%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 8.00%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Other Secured Obligations [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 773 849
Secured Debt [Member] | Other Secured Obligations [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 3.81%  
Secured Debt [Member] | Other Secured Obligations [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 12.24%  
Unsecured Debt [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 1,750 1,750
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes 6.125% Due in 2018 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 500 500
Interest rate 6.125%  
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes 5.50% Due in 2019 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 750 750
Interest rate 5.50%  
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Senior Notes 4.625% Due in 2020 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 500 500
Interest rate 4.625%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Less: Total unamortized debt discount, premium and issuance costs $ 227 216
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases 2,058 1,859
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities 21,236 20,718
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations 23,521 22,793
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Credit Facility 2013 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 1,825 1,843
Interest rate 3.55%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Credit Facility 2014 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 728 735
Interest rate 3.43%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | April 2016 Credit Facilities [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 990 1,000
Interest rate 3.57%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | December 2016 Credit Facilities [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 1,238 1,250
Interest rate 3.48%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 11,881 10,912
Average interest rate 4.30%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 3.00%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETC) [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 9.75%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 5,259 5,343
Average interest rate 3.29%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 2.34%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Equipment Loans and Other Notes Payable [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 8.48%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 828 862
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 5.00%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Special Facility Revenue Bonds [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 5.50%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Other Secured Obligations [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 772 $ 848
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Other Secured Obligations [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 3.81%  
American Airlines, Inc. [Member] | Secured Debt [Member] | Other Secured Obligations [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Interest rate 12.24%