Cash Distributions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Cash Distributions	Cash Distributions AB is required to distribute all of its Available Cash Flow, as defined in the AB Partnership Agreement, to its Unitholders and to the General Partner. Available Cash Flow can be summarized as the cash flow received by AB from operations minus such amounts as the General Partner determines, in its sole discretion, should be retained by AB for use in its business, or plus such amounts as the General Partner determines, in its sole discretion, should be released from previously retained cash flow. Typically, Available Cash Flow has been the adjusted diluted net income per unit for the quarter multiplied by the number of general and limited partnership interests at the end of the quarter. In future periods, management anticipates that Available Cash Flow will be based on adjusted diluted net income per unit, unless management determines, with the concurrence of the Board of Directors, that one or more adjustments that are made for adjusted net income should not be made with respect to the Available Cash Flow calculation. On April 26, 2018, the General Partner declared a distribution of $0.80 per AB Unit, representing a distribution of Available Cash Flow for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The General Partner, as a result of its 1% general partnership interest, is entitled to receive 1% of each distribution. The distribution is payable on May 17, 2018 to holders of record on May 7, 2018. The $0.12 difference between diluted net income per AB Unit of $0.68 and the distribution of $0.80 in the first quarter of 2018 primarily resulted from the adoption of revenue recognition standard ASC 606, as a consequence of which $35 million of income was recognized, as previously discussed in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies.

Cash Distributions

AB is required to distribute all of its Available Cash Flow, as defined in the AB Partnership Agreement, to its Unitholders and to the General Partner. Available Cash Flow can be summarized as the cash flow received by AB from operations minus such amounts as the General Partner determines, in its sole discretion, should be retained by AB for use in its business, or plus such amounts as the General Partner determines, in its sole discretion, should be released from previously retained cash flow.

Typically, Available Cash Flow has been the adjusted diluted net income per unit for the quarter multiplied by the number of general and limited partnership interests at the end of the quarter. In future periods, management anticipates that Available Cash Flow will be based on adjusted diluted net income per unit, unless management determines, with the concurrence of the Board of Directors, that one or more adjustments that are made for adjusted net income should not be made with respect to the Available Cash Flow calculation.

On April 26, 2018, the General Partner declared a distribution of $0.80 per AB Unit, representing a distribution of Available Cash Flow for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The General Partner, as a result of its 1% general partnership interest, is entitled to receive 1% of each distribution. The distribution is payable on May 17, 2018 to holders of record on May 7, 2018.

The $0.12 difference between diluted net income per AB Unit of $0.68 and the distribution of $0.80 in the first quarter of 2018 primarily resulted from the adoption of revenue recognition standard ASC 606, as a consequence of which $35 million of income was recognized, as previously discussed in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies.