Originally Posted by
Adam Smith
That's not true. You don't have to be at the gate to collect your new BP, and you can use said eUpgraded BP to access the lounge, if you're so desperate for whatever is today's version of broken tortilla chips and pickles. You're probably unlikely to take advantage of it given the limited time between the list being processed and the end of boarding, but it's definitely possible, and I'm sure there are lower-tier elites who would take advantage, especially if a delay gets posted after the list gets run.
You are right. The situation is unlikely but certainly possible. I once rushed to the gate for the deadline for a gate upgrade and received the upgraded BP on my way. When I arrived at the gate, Zone 1 was boarding. LH Senator Lounge is right next to the gate. Wanting to relax a bit after all my rush through the airport, I checked in the lounge and sipped a cup of draft beer before heading back to the plane. I had the lounge access without the upgrade anyway, but it should certainly work for someone with a gate upgraded BP.