People are not trying to upgrade without the miles, I for one, simply do not need to be catching up with other people mistakes or omissions. Long long ago I stopped being 'quality control' for hotels/airlines/car rentals/etc, its their duty not mine to charge me, if they catch it great, they are suposed to, if not it simply balances it out with the other times when a mistake oh their end greatly inconvenienced me, cost me extra money or downright tried to screw me. (and I am not talking about Continental at all, simply the 'big picture' where a hotel here and there manages to screw a trip for x/y/z reason or a bag has a missing item or......etc)