What should happen and what does happen are not one and the same thing. How else to explain how some general SkyMiles members get upgraded before an AF-KL Platinum even when on the same plane, in the same fare class purchased at the same time, even on the same itinerary with the same record locator and checking in at the same time. Alphabetical order?

Either way, AS elites do seem to get some upgrades, much like AF-KL elites and their non-elite companions: not probable, but it occurs often enough on leisure-heavy routes at off-peak times to manifest itself well enough.