XML 149 R129.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Receivables - Schedule of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Customer Receivables [Member]      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Balance at beginning of year $ 20us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
$ 39us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
$ 46us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
Provision for doubtful accounts 2us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
3us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
2us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
Write off of uncollectible accounts (3)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
(19)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
(8)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
Recoveries of prior write-offs (2)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
(3)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
(1)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
Other (3)aa_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsOther
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
   
Balance at end of year 14us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
20us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
39us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_ReceivablesFromCustomersMember
Other Receivables [Member]      
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]      
Balance at beginning of year 47us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
74us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
79us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
Provision for doubtful accounts 8us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
29us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
9us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
Write off of uncollectible accounts (4)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
(39)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
(3)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
Recoveries of prior write-offs (7)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
(10)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
(6)us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
Other (3)aa_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsOther
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
(7)aa_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsOther
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
(5)aa_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsOther
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
Balance at end of year $ 41us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
$ 47us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember
$ 74us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
/ us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis
= aa_OtherReceivablesMember