2.2.0.25falsefalse06222 - Disclosure - Significant Credit Concentrations (Details Textuals)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3true0axp_SignificantCreditConcentrationsTextualsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationSignificant credit concentrations.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringSignificant credit concentrations.falsefalse4false0axp_CoBrandPortfolioAccountPercentageOfWorldwideBilledBusinessaxpfalsenadurationRepresents the percentage of the Company's worldwide billed business that is generated from the Company's Delta SkyMiles...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.050.05falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents the percentage of the Company's worldwide billed business that is generated from the Company's Delta SkyMiles Credit Card co-brand portfolio accounts.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0axp_CoBrandPortfolioAccountPercentageOfWorldwideCardmemberLendingReceivablesaxpfalsenadurationRepresents the percentage of the Company's worldwide cardmember lending receivables that are attributable to the Company's...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00Less than 15%Less than 15%falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRepresents the percentage of the Company's worldwide cardmember lending receivables that are attributable to the Company's Delta SkyMiles Credit Card co-brand portfolio accounts.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13Significant Credit Concentrations (Details Textuals)UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
