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Stock Plans (Details 3) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Stock Based Compensation Expense [Abstract]      
Stock-based compensation expense $ 290us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 350us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 297us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Stock Plans (Textuals) [Abstract]      
Total income tax benefit recognized in the income statement for stock-based compensation arrangements 104us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 127us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 107us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Restricted Stock Awards [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation Expense [Abstract]      
Stock-based compensation expense 193us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember
208us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember
197us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember
Stock Plans (Textuals) [Abstract]      
Total unrecognized compensation cost 211us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_RestrictedStockAwardsMember
   
Weighted-average remaining vesting period 1 year 4 months 0 days    
Stock Option [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation Expense [Abstract]      
Stock-based compensation expense 13us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_StockOptionMember
23us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_StockOptionMember
29us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_StockOptionMember
Stock Plans (Textuals) [Abstract]      
Total unrecognized compensation cost 6us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= us-gaap_StockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average remaining vesting period 2 years 1 month 0 days    
Liability-Based Awards [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation Expense [Abstract]      
Stock-based compensation expense 84us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_LiabilityBasedAwardsMember
119us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_LiabilityBasedAwardsMember
70us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_LiabilityBasedAwardsMember
Performance And Market-Based Stock Options [Member]      
Stock Based Compensation Expense [Abstract]      
Stock-based compensation expense $ 0us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_PerformanceAndMarketBasedStockOptionsMember
$ 0us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_PerformanceAndMarketBasedStockOptionsMember
$ 1us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= axp_PerformanceAndMarketBasedStockOptionsMember