This isn't right anymore.

Take our man flight at Xmas...we had 2 seats in F that I'd bought months earlier, there were 2 seats left on ek17. I met a nice flyertalker off here who is platinum and he was not able to confirm the seat at check in or in the lounge - they said they'd let him know at the gate. Him and another chap who was gold were upgraded at the gate with miles being deducted.

It's happened to me twice now - for tonight's flight to Dubai from Phuket and on the way back from MRU where despite space being available upgrades are being denied until the last minute.