Here's more info: the agent at baggage drop told me that a Continental agent had logged into my record at midnight before departure and given me a first class upgrade was not proper. She treated me like I "knew" someone at Continental and had caused this myself. She treated me like I was the guilty party! First, I know no one at Continental and was not at all responsible for this. I had checked in about 24 hours before departure, and affirmed that I wanted to be placed on the Elite upgrade list. She said that she couldn't check me in until she took away my illegal first class upgrade. I demanded some more information, and she finally told me that the agent that had done this hadn't been on duty for at least 48 hours and someone else had used her ID! Finally after almost an hour, a supervisor came and took away the upgrade and my bag was finally checked in. Luckily I had arrived two hours early. (By the way, I did clear the upgrade list legally at the gate!)

As for the baggage problems, I have flown a million plus miles domestically and internationally for years, and until this year, had only one lost bag (Southwest). All flights have been non-stops from IAH to destinations like TPA and DTW, orignial aircraft, no gate changes, no re-routes, , no gate changes. and my baggage, properly labeled has been checked-in with plenty of time to spare.

I think Continental is trying to tell me to fly someone else after all these years of loyalty.