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USD ($)
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Lacc_Geographic_Region_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseLACC Geographic Region [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_LaccGeographicRegionMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$22falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : LACC Geographic Region [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Lacc_Geographic_Region_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseLACC Geographic Region [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_LaccGeographicRegionMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$23falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : LACC Geographic Region [Member]
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Subparagraph 1(i)
-Article 4
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Other_Unallocated_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseOther Unallocated [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_OtherUnallocatedMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$25falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : Other Unallocated [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Other_Unallocated_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseOther Unallocated [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_OtherUnallocatedMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$26falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : Other Unallocated [Member]
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Subparagraph 1(i)
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{us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxis} : Severance [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Employee_Severance_Member_Corporate_And_Other_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseCorporate and Other [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CorporateAndOtherMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseSeverance [Member]us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMemberus-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse34true0axp_ReportableOperatingSegmentsAndGeographicOperationsTextualsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationReportable operating segments and geographic operations.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringReportable operating segments and geographic operations.falsefalse35false0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCostus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse133000000133falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00[6],[7]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDiscloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-Paragraph 20
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Employee_Severance_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseSeverance [Member]us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMemberus-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$29falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxis} : Severance [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Employee_Severance_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseSeverance [Member]us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMemberus-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$30falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxis} : Severance [Member]
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Employee_Severance_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseSeverance [Member]us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMemberus-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse38true0axp_ReportableOperatingSegmentsAndGeographicOperationsTextualsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationReportable operating segments and geographic operations.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringReportable operating segments and geographic operations.falsefalse39false0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCostus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse9800000098[10],[5]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse161000000161[10]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11truefalsefalse366000000366[10],[6],[7]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDiscloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-Paragraph 20
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Corporate_And_Other_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseCorporate and Other [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CorporateAndOtherMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$32falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Corporate and Other [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
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1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Subparagraph 1(i)
-Article 4
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-Paragraph 20
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4
falsefalse1 The data in the above table is, in part, based upon internal allocations, which necessarily involve management's judgment. Certain revisions and reclassifications have been made to 2009 and 2008 to conform to 2010 classifications and internal allocation methodology.2The results of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 include restructuring charges in the amount of $98 million. Refer to Note 16 for further discussion of these items.3The results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 include (i) a $135 million benefit representing the correction of an error related to the accounting for cumulative translation adjustments associated with a net investment in foreign subsidiaries and (ii) a $45 million benefit resulting from the change in the fair value of certain forward exchange contracts. The results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 include a $59 million benefit related to the completion of certain account reconciliations. Refer to Note 19 for further discussion of these items.4The results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 include restructuring charges in the amount of $199 million. Refer to Note 16 for further discussion of these items.5Net adjustments of $27 million were recorded in the Company's reportable operating segments as follows: $4 million in USCS, $13 million in ICS, $(2) million in GCS, and $12 million in Corporate & Other. These adjustments primarily relate to higher employee redeployments to other positions within the Company, business changes and modifications to existing initiatives.6Adjustments primarily relate to higher than anticipated redeployments of displaced employees to other positions within the Company. 7Includes $17 million related to discontinued operations. 8EMEA represents Europe, Middle East and Africa, JAPA represents Japan, Asia/Pacific and Australia and LACC represents Latin America, Canada and Caribbean.9Other Unallocated includes net costs results which are not directly allocable to specific geographic regions, including costs related to the net negative interest spread on excess liquidity
funding and executive office operations expenses.10Accounted for in accordance with the GAAP governing the accounting for nonretirement postemployment benefits and for costs associated with exit or disposal activities.11Corporate and Other includes adjustments and eliminations for intersegment activity. 1136Reportable Operating Segments and Geographic Operations (Details 1) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
