Hit and miss for me.

HI SFO airport, I more often than not get upgraded from a base room to a higher floor suite.
HI Manchester, UK airport, 50/50. Had a couple of times where I've been upgraded to a room with a fridge and some free wine etc., other times just the base room I booked.
HI LHR (Heathrow Airport, Bath Road). Upgraded on all my few stays, although once was close to the lifts, so some early evening noise.
HI Chicago Wolf Point Got the city view room I paid for on the 17th floor, but in an area where the room, apart from some increased noise (especially in the morning with constant lift usage), actually vibrated due to near by lift machinery.
San Jose Airport HI. Upgraded to a better, higher floor room.

HIX. One I stay at from time to time often put me in a room at the end of a corridor, away from the lifts. Depends on how full it is though as those rooms might be occupied already.
Most others, they may or may not put me away from the lifts or on a higher floor. Have "away from lifts" as a preference, but it doesn't bother me too much - some hotels have you in a room miles away from the lifts, so a lot of walking.