I know, but credit to Continental where due.

Last Saturday I was 3-for-3 on complimentary upgrades.

Monterrey - Houston cleared 24 hours out, and I received notification by e-mail.

Houston - Newark, I was the LAST person called out of my Y seat and invited to sit in 2L.

Newark - Madrid, oversold in Y, approached the counter at the gate, offered to "give up" my seat in Y in exchange for an upgrade, and the supervisor graciously said "I'll be glad to do that for you, sir."

All in all a much more pleasant 20 hours than what I was expecting.