XML 22 R142.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Parent Company (Details Textuals) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Parent Company Details (Textuals) [Abstract]        
Gain on business travel joint venture transaction $ (626,000,000)axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax $ (630,000,000)axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax    
Non Cash [Member]        
Parent Company Details (Textuals) [Abstract]        
Charge related to impacts of debt exchange on long-term debt   0axp_LongTermDebtImpactDueToDebtExchange
/ axp_IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchangeAxis
= axp_NonCashMember
0axp_LongTermDebtImpactDueToDebtExchange
/ axp_IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchangeAxis
= axp_NonCashMember
439,000,000axp_LongTermDebtImpactDueToDebtExchange
/ axp_IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchangeAxis
= axp_NonCashMember
Gain on business travel joint venture transaction   (630,000,000)axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax
/ axp_IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchangeAxis
= axp_NonCashMember
0axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax
/ axp_IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchangeAxis
= axp_NonCashMember
0axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax
/ axp_IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchangeAxis
= axp_NonCashMember
Parent Company [Member] | Non Cash [Member]        
Parent Company Details (Textuals) [Abstract]        
Charge related to impacts of debt exchange on long-term debt   $ 0axp_LongTermDebtImpactDueToDebtExchange
/ axp_IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchangeAxis
= axp_NonCashMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
$ 0axp_LongTermDebtImpactDueToDebtExchange
/ axp_IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchangeAxis
= axp_NonCashMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember