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Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services | $ 2,511 | $ 2,275 | $ 7,542 | $ 6,405
Marketing and promotion [Member] |  |  |  |
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services | 757 | 871 | 2,261 | 2,314
Cardmember rewards [Member] |  |  |  |
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services | 1,565 | 1,263 | 4,755 | 3,666
Cardmember services [Member] |  |  |  |
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services | $ 189 | $ 141 | $ 526 | $ 425

X
- Definition Marketing and promotion expense includes advertising costs. Cardmember rewards expense includes the costs of rewards programs (including Membership Rewards). Cardmember services expense includes protection plans and complimentary services provided to cardmembers. + Details
Name: | axp_MarketingPromotionRewardsAndCardmemberServices
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ComponentOfOperatingOtherCostAndExpenseLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration