IME, computer says no most of the time.

5% of the time you get an agent who checks with some sort of supervisor and then processes an upgrade - but I don't know whether this is actual D or Z class or it gets pushed through as an instant/airport space available upgrade as I do that 72-24 hrs before departure.

Benefits of platinum in F = complaints taken slightly more seriously, slightly more avenues to chat with staff as you can chat like a jaded flyer.

Not sure if this is a platinum thing or an EK thing but I had a 90 min connection that was delayed by 30 minutes inbound to DXB, when I disembarked the onward flight was already boarding and I had 25 minutes until gate closed. However we landed at concourse A and of course my onward was from the middle of concourse C - FIDS said the gate was 22 minutes away, and this was pre-security. No agent visible so rushed to the onward, arrived with 2 minutes to go - turns out my bags also made the connection.

Given the stories of bad connect handling I was extremely surprised to see my bags pop out the other end (and first batch!). So perhaps being platinum means they don't automatically offload and give you to the last minute!