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Restructuring and Other Charges - Activity and Reserve Balances for Restructuring Charges (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]      
Restructuring reserve beginning balance $ 138us-gaap_RestructuringReserve $ 111us-gaap_RestructuringReserve $ 134us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Cash payments (213)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring (74)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring (57)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
Restructuring charges 453aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses 286aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses 60aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses
Other (246)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts (185)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts (26)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts
Restructuring reserve ending balance 132us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 138us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 111us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Layoff Costs [Member]      
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]      
Restructuring reserve beginning balance 96us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
59us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
77us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Cash payments (191)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
(63)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
(44)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Restructuring charges 259aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
201aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
47aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Other (66)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
(101)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
(21)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Restructuring reserve ending balance 98us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
96us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
59us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Other Exit Costs [Member]      
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]      
Restructuring reserve beginning balance 42us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
52us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
57us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
Cash payments (22)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
(11)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
(13)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
Restructuring charges 194aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
85aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
13aa_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenses
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
Other (180)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
(84)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
(5)us-gaap_OtherRestructuringCosts
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
Restructuring reserve ending balance $ 34us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
$ 42us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember
$ 52us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aa_OtherExitCostsMember