Reading the threads is does appear to vary wildy, if you are in the US I think you will have a better chance than in the UK.

Out of my last 26 stays I have recived an upgrade twice only, and only one of those was in the UK. I was upgraded frpom a standard double to an executive room at Stratford on Avon. At Copenhagen CP (A great hotel btw) we were upgraded to a club room with club access. To be fair I have had a few stays at HIX's where in the UK the room are all the same, so there is not much they can do, but also many at HI's and CP's.

Other than that no upgrades, even when asking politly if there were any avialable. The main benifet for us is late check out at 2pm, and even that takes some getting, but I am a little bit more assertive over that. (I have had occasions where hotels tell me it is available for a charge, but not as a PC benefit).

I have wondered if it is because I use the exclusive A rate and the hotels don't like to upgrade on that at all.

The 50% points bonus is nice, but if there were even a little more benefit, such as free wifi, and/or better upgrade pratice then IHG would get more of my buisness which is currently split