XML 13 R39.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8

Divestitures (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Divestitures (Details) [Abstract]
Ownership percentage by the Company	50.00%			50.00%
Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method.	$ 900,000,000			$ 900,000,000
Cash invested by third party in joint venture	900,000,000			900,000,000
Ownership percentage by third party	50.00%			50.00%
Deconsolidation gain amount, before tax	15,000,000	0	626,000,000	641,000,000	0
Deconsolidation gain amount, after tax			$ 409,000,000	$ 409,000,000

X

- Definition

Primary input used to determine fair value of equity investment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_CashInvestedByThirdPartyInJointVenture
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Gain on business travel joint venture transaction, after tax

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountAfterTax
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Gain on business travel joint venture, before tax

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	axp_DivestituresDetailsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

"The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation held by third party in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipHeldByThirdParty
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903542&loc=d3e32014-111567

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant