Other Fees and Commissions and Other Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Fees charged to Card Members:
Delinquency fees	$ 148	$ 260
Foreign currency conversion fee revenue	96	193
Other customer fees:
Loyalty coalition-related fees	124	108
Travel commissions and fees	33	60
Service fees and other	119	99
Other fees and commissions
Other customer fees:
Total Other fees and commissions	$ 520	$ 720

Commissions and fees earned by charging clients transaction or management fees for selling and arranging travel and travel management services. Client transaction fee revenue is recognized at the time the client books the travel arrangements. Travel management services revenue is recognized over the contractual term of the agreement. The Company's travel suppliers (for example, airlines, hotels, car rental companies) pay commissions and fees on tickets issued, sales and other services based on contractual agreements. Commissions and fees from travel suppliers are generally recognized at the time a ticket is purchased or over the term of the contract. Commissions and fees that are based on actual usage that is unknown at time of purchase (for example, hotel and car rentals), are recognized when cash is received.

No definition available.

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