I get the feeling Intercontinental in the USA is not what it must be elsewhere. I haven't gotten my 20,000 bonus points from the Ambassador sign up promotion for instance after completing a stay a week ago, and have been trying for days (every way you can imagine, phone, email, twitter, facebook, web chat) to get someone to help me with this and haven't gotten a single reply (phone rep just says I'll transfer you to someone and then hangs up, twice now). IC San Diego has confirmed in writing that their position is the upgrade is only if available and on arrival (FWIW I booked a week ago and the booking doesn't reflect any upgrade either).