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Stock Plans (Details Textuals) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Stock Plans Details [Abstract] |  |  |
Common shares unissued and available for grant | 35,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant | 35,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant | 36,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Weighted-average grant date fair value of RSAs granted | $ 86.65 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue |  |
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Share-based Payments [Line Items] |  |  |
Exercisable non-qualified stock option awards granted to CEO | 687,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions |  |
Chief Executive Officer [Member] |  |  |
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Share-based Payments [Line Items] |  |  |
Non-qualified stock option awards granted to CEO | 2,750,000 us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualSharesIssued / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember |  |
Contractual term in years of stock option awards | 10 years 0 months 0 days |  |
Vesting period in years of stock option awards | 6 years 0 months 0 days |  |
Chief Executive Officer [Member] | Market-based conditions [Member] |  |  |
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Share-based Payments [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate grant date fair value | $ 10,500,000 axp_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateAggregateFairValue / us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis = us-gaap_DeferredProfitSharingMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember |  |
Total compensation expense | 0 us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCompensationExpense / us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis = us-gaap_DeferredProfitSharingMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember | 300,000 us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCompensationExpense / us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis = us-gaap_DeferredProfitSharingMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember | 500,000 us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCompensationExpense / us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis = us-gaap_DeferredProfitSharingMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
Chief Executive Officer [Member] | Performance-based conditions [Member] |  |  |
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Share-based Payments [Line Items] |  |  |
Aggregate grant date fair value | 33,800,000 axp_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateAggregateFairValue / us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis = us-gaap_DeferredBonusMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember |  |
Total compensation expense | 0 us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCompensationExpense / us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis = us-gaap_DeferredBonusMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember | 0 us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCompensationExpense / us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis = us-gaap_DeferredBonusMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember | 0 us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualCompensationExpense / us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis = us-gaap_DeferredBonusMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
Stock Option [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Vesting rights | Stock options generally vest 25 percent per year beginning with the first anniversary of the grant date or at 100 percent on the third anniversary of the grant date. |  |
Intrinsic value for options exercised | 245,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember | 374,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember | 209,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember
Cash received from the exercise of stock options | 283,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember | 580,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember | 368,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember
Tax benefit realized from income tax deductions from stock option exercises | 54,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember | 84,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember | 45,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember
Restricted Stock Awards [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Vesting rights | RSAs are valued based on the stock price on the date of grant and generally vest 25 percent per year, beginning with the first anniversary of the grant date or at 100 percent on the third anniversary of the grant date. |  |
Total fair value of shares vested | 298,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember | 336,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember | 296,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember
Weighted-average grant date fair value of RSAs granted | $ 86.65 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember | $ 60.13 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember | $ 49.8 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember
Liability-Based Awards [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash paid upon vesting of PGs | $ 62,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashFlowEffectCashUsedToSettleAwards / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_LiabilityBasedAwardsMember | $ 43,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashFlowEffectCashUsedToSettleAwards / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_LiabilityBasedAwardsMember | $ 66,000,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashFlowEffectCashUsedToSettleAwards / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = axp_LiabilityBasedAwardsMember

X
- Definition The grant-date aggregate fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Aggregate cash paid by the entity during the period to settle equity instruments granted under equity-based payment arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (k) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Aggregate proceeds received by the entity during the annual period from exercises of stock or unit options and conversion of similar instruments granted under equity-based payment arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (j) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Disclosure of the aggregate tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options and the conversion of similar instruments during the annual period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (j) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Description of award terms as to how many shares or portion of an award are no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, thereby giving the employee the legal right to convert the award to shares, to sell the shares, and be entitled to the cash proceeds of such sale. For example, vesting may be expressed as being 25 percent of the shares under option on each anniversary of the grant date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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