NRT-DTW departs and arrives on same calendar day.
Yeah, my bad. I didn't check twice and even it's an overnight flight it departs and arrives on the same day.
The right example would be, like shortest possible connection on DL from Santiago to let's say Phoenix:
SCL-ATL 16MAR 21.50 05.35+1
ATL-PHX 17MAR 08.15 10.28
I'm pretty sure a SkyTeam Elite+ member should get an access in Atlanta, though if we understand same day connection with an international flight wording from the rules he/she shouldn't, since on 17MAR a person is flying domestic flight not connecting to an international one. His/her international flight is on the other day.
The other way around, the shortest possible connection on DL between Seattle and Cartagena:
SEA-ATL 17MAR 23.05 06.43+1
ATL-CTG 18MAR 09.52 12.50
Again, it would seem ridiculous if a person flying this itinerary would be declined access to a lounge in Seattle. However on March 17 he/she doesn't have a same day connection with an international flight.
If in both cases a person is granted access then it must be something different than plain same day. If it's 24 hours (like with the rest of SkyTeam) then:
If you decide to take an overnight layover at DTW, your departure to ORD will not be same day and thus no lounge access.
A person taking layover at DTW and continuing to ORD next morning, with less than 24 hours connection, should be granted access at DTW. This case isn't different from SCL-PHX example (international flight departs today and connecting domestic flight tomorrow - not a same day).
Why do you think it is solely based on departure day?
I do no think. I do not know. I was purely asking for other people experience. I know how it works in Europe. It's clearly less than 24 hours connection (even on separate tickets) gives you access to a lounge on a domestic flight. So I'm wondering how it is with Delta in the states:
1. AF CDG-LAX arrival today at 2pm, then DL LAX-DEN departure tomorrow at 10am, separate tickets, access to SkyClub at LAX?
2. DL ticket: SAN-ATL-MEX, SAN-ATL overnight, ATL-MEX is on pretty short connection next morning. Technically those flights are not same day, even it's clear it's an international itinerary. Access at SAN?
I mean it can't be I'm a first person ever arriving from Paris to LAX on AF and leaving next day to DEN on Delta with less than 24 hours connection who would try to access a SkyClub at LAX. So I'm just asking whether that worked.