Divestitures	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Business Combination Disclosure [Abstract]
Divestitures	2. Divestitures On June 30, 2014, the Company completed a transaction to establish a non-consolidated joint venture, GBT JV, comprising the former Global Business Travel (GBT) operations of the Company, historically reported within the Global Commercial Services (GCS) segment, and an external cash investment. The Company has retained a 50 percent ownership interest in the GBT JV with an estimated fair value of that interest of approximately $900 million, which is accounted for as an equity method investment effective June 30, 2014, and reported in Other assets within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In exchange for the cash contribution of $900 million paid into the GBT JV, an unrelated investor group holds the remaining 50 percent ownership interest. The investor group’s cash contribution provides the primary basis for the Company’s determination of the estimated fair value of its 50 percent ownership interest. As a result of the transaction, the Company deconsolidated the GBT net assets and recognized a net gain of $626 million ($409 million after tax), which was reported as a reduction to other expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. Prior to the deconsolidation, the carrying amount of GBT’s assets and liabilities were not material to the Company’s financial position. The GBT JV operates under the “American Express Global Business Travel” brand, pursuant to a trademark license agreement provided by the Company. The Company has also entered into a transition services agreement and certain other operating agreements with the GBT JV, pursuant to which the Company and the GBT JV provide one another with certain services and that result in related-party receivables and payables. There was no material impact to the Company during the current quarter related to the GBT JV’s results of operations or the related agreements.

Divestitures

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Business Combination Disclosure [Abstract]

2. Divestitures

On June 30, 2014, the Company completed a transaction to establish a non-consolidated joint venture, GBT JV, comprising the former Global Business Travel (GBT) operations of the Company, historically reported within the Global Commercial Services (GCS) segment, and an external cash investment. The Company has retained a 50 percent ownership interest in the GBT JV with an estimated fair value of that interest of approximately $900 million, which is accounted for as an equity method investment effective June 30, 2014, and reported in Other assets within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In exchange for the cash contribution of $900 million paid into the GBT JV, an unrelated investor group holds the remaining 50 percent ownership interest. The investor group’s cash contribution provides the primary basis for the Company’s determination of the estimated fair value of its 50 percent ownership interest.

As a result of the transaction, the Company deconsolidated the GBT net assets and recognized a net gain of $626 million ($409 million after tax), which was reported as a reduction to other expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. Prior to the deconsolidation, the carrying amount of GBT’s assets and liabilities were not material to the Company’s financial position.

The GBT JV operates under the “American Express Global Business Travel” brand, pursuant to a trademark license agreement provided by the Company. The Company has also entered into a transition services agreement and certain other operating agreements with the GBT JV, pursuant to which the Company and the GBT JV provide one another with certain services and that result in related-party receivables and payables. There was no material impact to the Company during the current quarter related to the GBT JV’s results of operations or the related agreements.