Wow, this is so wrong it's either sad or funny. Author confuses elite discounts on SC memberships with different levels of SC membership. Author exhibits poor reading comprehension when using the internet.

The only way SC access can help with upgrades is the ability to check with the SC agents that your upgrade request is showing properly and sometimes the reissue of boarding passes if you're upgraded after arrival at the airport but before boarding starts.

Before upgrades were automated from an ordered computerized priority list, I used to think that dressing well and asking nicely in the lounge improved my odds, but upgrades aren't supposed to be discretionary any more.