Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	11. Income Taxes The Company is under continuous examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax authorities in other countries and states in which the Company has significant business operations. The tax years under examination and open for examination vary by jurisdiction. The IRS has completed its field examination of the Company's federal tax returns for years through 2007; however, refund claims for certain years continue to be reviewed by the IRS. In addition, the Company is currently under examination by the IRS for the years 2008 through 2011. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease within the next 12 months by as much as $736 million principally as a result of potential resolutions of prior years' tax items with various taxing authorities. The prior years' tax items include unrecognized tax benefits relating to the deductibility of certain expenses or losses and the attribution of taxable income to a particular jurisdiction or jurisdictions. Of the $736 million of unrecognized tax benefits, approximately $532 million relates to amounts that if recognized would be recorded to shareholders' equity and would not impact the effective tax rate. In addition, approximately $59 million relates to amounts that if recognized would not impact the effective tax rate as they relate to temporary differences. With respect to the remaining $145 million, it is not possible to quantify the impact that the decrease could have on the effective tax rate and net income due to the inherent complexities and the number of tax years open for examination in multiple jurisdictions. Resolution of the prior years' items that comprise this remaining amount could have an impact on the effective tax rate and on net income, either favorably (principally as a result of settlements that are less than the liability for unrecognized tax benefits) or unfavorably (if such settlements exceed the liability for unrecognized tax benefits). The effective tax rate was 31.8 percent and 31.4 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and 33.2 percent and 30.4 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. The tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 reflects the benefit of the reversal of a valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets associated with certain of the Company's non-U.S. business travel operations, as well as the resolution of certain prior years' tax items. Based on management's intent to reorganize its business travel operations through the creation of a joint venture, it is more likely than not that future taxable income will be sufficient to support the realization of the benefit of the associated non-U.S. deferred tax assets. The tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflects the realization of certain foreign tax credits. The tax rates for all periods reflect the level of pretax income in relation to a generally consistent level of recurring permanent tax benefits and geographic mix of business.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

11. Income Taxes

The Company is under continuous examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax authorities in other countries and states in which the Company has significant business operations. The tax years under examination and open for examination vary by jurisdiction. The IRS has completed its field examination of the Company's federal tax returns for years through 2007; however, refund claims for certain years continue to be reviewed by the IRS. In addition, the Company is currently under examination by the IRS for the years 2008 through 2011.

The Company believes it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease within the next 12 months by as much as $736 million principally as a result of potential resolutions of prior years' tax items with various taxing authorities. The prior years' tax items include unrecognized tax benefits relating to the deductibility of certain expenses or losses and the attribution of taxable income to a particular jurisdiction or jurisdictions. Of the $736 million of unrecognized tax benefits, approximately $532 million relates to amounts that if recognized would be recorded to shareholders' equity and would not impact the effective tax rate. In addition, approximately $59 million relates to amounts that if recognized would not impact the effective tax rate as they relate to temporary differences. With respect to the remaining $145 million, it is not possible to quantify the impact that the decrease could have on the effective tax rate and net income due to the inherent complexities and the number of tax years open for examination in multiple jurisdictions. Resolution of the prior years' items that comprise this remaining amount could have an impact on the effective tax rate and on net income, either favorably (principally as a result of settlements that are less than the liability for unrecognized tax benefits) or unfavorably (if such settlements exceed the liability for unrecognized tax benefits).

The effective tax rate was 31.8 percent and 31.4 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and 33.2 percent and 30.4 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. The tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 reflects the benefit of the reversal of a valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets associated with certain of the Company's non-U.S. business travel operations, as well as the resolution of certain prior years' tax items. Based on management's intent to reorganize its business travel operations through the creation of a joint venture, it is more likely than not that future taxable income will be sufficient to support the realization of the benefit of the associated non-U.S. deferred tax assets. The tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 reflects the realization of certain foreign tax credits.

The tax rates for all periods reflect the level of pretax income in relation to a generally consistent level of recurring permanent tax benefits and geographic mix of business.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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