Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Receivables from Affiliates	AB Holding Units held for Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Partners' Capital	Non-redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities	General Partner’s Capital	Limited Partners' Capital
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017		$ (11,494)	$ (42,688)	$ (94,140)		$ 1,564	$ 41,221	$ 4,168,841
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 593,172					150	5,695	563,840
Cash distributions							(6,551)	(646,440)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		0	13,051				96	9,526
Issuance (retirement) of AB Units, net			25,414				(254)	(25,289)
Other			0	374			(3)	803
Capital contributions from General Partner		19
Compensation plan accrual		352
Capital contributions from AB Holding		(507)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(82,710)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(28)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(14,789)			(14,760)		(29)
Purchase of non-controlling interest						0
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	749			749
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	3,941,752	(11,630)	(86,961)	(107,777)	$ 3,940,067	1,685	40,553	4,105,882
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2018		(11,705)	(88,317)	(103,915)		1,659	40,886	4,135,950
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	204,400					32	2,037	201,637
Cash distributions							(1,881)	(184,588)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		0	(1,774)				44	4,490
Issuance (retirement) of AB Units, net			53,289				(533)	(52,780)
Other			0	0			0	1,173
Capital contributions from General Partner		0
Compensation plan accrual		0
Capital contributions from AB Holding		75
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(47,846)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(2,313)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(4,154)			(4,148)		(6)
Purchase of non-controlling interest						0
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	286			286
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	3,941,752	(11,630)	(86,961)	(107,777)	3,940,067	1,685	40,553	4,105,882
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		(11,430)	(77,990)	(110,866)		949	40,240	4,075,306
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	525,195					91	5,031	498,146
Cash distributions							(5,148)	(509,151)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		908	35,829				189	18,652
Issuance (retirement) of AB Units, net			31,491				(315)	(31,216)
Other			6,692	0			0	844
Capital contributions from General Partner		0
Compensation plan accrual		0
Capital contributions from AB Holding		1,218
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(81,790)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(9,945)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(12,203)			(12,350)		147
Purchase of non-controlling interest						(1,187)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	1,146			1,146
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	3,865,491	(9,304)	(95,713)	(122,070)	3,865,491	0	39,997	4,052,581
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2019		(9,839)	(100,453)	(109,963)		1,020	40,016	4,053,360
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	191,956					17	1,877	185,934
Cash distributions							(1,710)	(169,118)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		216	9,214				4	397
Issuance (retirement) of AB Units, net			19,011				(190)	(18,836)
Other			0	0			0	844
Capital contributions from General Partner		0
Compensation plan accrual		0
Capital contributions from AB Holding		319
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(23,432)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(53)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(12,505)			(12,654)		150
Purchase of non-controlling interest						(1,187)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	547			547
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 3,865,491	$ (9,304)	$ (95,713)	$ (122,070)	$ 3,865,491	$ 0	$ 39,997	$ 4,052,581