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)	General Partner’s Capital	Limited Partners' Capital
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ (9,011)	$ (76,310)	$ (113,004)	$ 41,225	$ 4,174,201
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 367,010				3,717	367,924
Cash distributions					(5,938)	(440,686)
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			36,218		(362)	(35,856)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		393	14,675		5	628
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		(549)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(47,415)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(909)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(14,939)			(14,939)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	584			584
Other			15
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	3,894,606	(9,167)	(73,726)	(127,359)	38,647	4,066,211
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020		(9,279)	(81,314)	(134,073)	40,571	4,109,946
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	198,261				1,774	175,547
Cash distributions					(3,396)	(189,425)
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			30,455		(305)	(30,150)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		209	7,268		3	293
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		(97)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(29,665)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(473)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	6,384			6,384
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	330			330
Other			3
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	3,894,606	(9,167)	(73,726)	(127,359)	38,647	4,066,211
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	4,111,523	(8,316)	(57,219)	(94,203)	41,776	4,229,485
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	514,982				5,117	506,584
Cash distributions					(5,319)	(526,491)
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			(36,498)		368	36,331
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		159	27,507		11	1,151
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		358
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(75,468)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			1,474
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(5,002)			(5,002)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	415			415
Other			0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2021	4,042,220	(7,799)	(140,204)	(98,790)	41,953	4,247,060
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2021		(1,725)	(143,807)	(101,232)	42,022	4,253,904
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	271,143				2,676	264,894
Cash distributions					(2,421)	(239,678)
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			34,515		(342)	(33,919)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		17	9,505		18	1,859
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		(6,091)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(39,614)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(803)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	2,114			2,114
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	328			328
Other			0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2021	$ 4,042,220	$ (7,799)	$ (140,204)	$ (98,790)	$ 41,953	$ 4,247,060