KLM Flying Dutchman - Full Fare IAH-NBO can't upgrade with MILES

I bought a full fare ticket due to fixed travel dates on KLM hoping I'd upgrade from Economy to Business with 25k miles only to be told no availability. Im not amused, ticket is $4500 discounted economy 1400, may go for discounted and hope my trip dates dont change and get a full refund, was looking forward to business and getting some extra miles, my Silver benefits expire Feb 2013, only have 2000 level miles, this would have got me over the 25k miles to keep Silver on way to GOLD for next year. Any suggestions?

It always makes sense to check upgrade availability before buying a more expensive ticket if the main reason for buying the expensive ticket is the wish to upgrade.

I don't know any airline where you could reasonably expect to upgrade any 4 long haul sectors with miles immediately after booking - particularly when you didn't check award seat availability first.

I think your figure of 25k for an upgrade may be too low. Did you expect to be able to upgrade all 4 flights for that amount?

was looking forward to business and getting some extra miles

I just want to clarify - by using miles to upgrade from Economy to Business, you won't get any extra miles. You get the miles for the booking class you originally paid for. Granted that you bought full fare economy, you are already earning more than you would have with a discounted economy ticket. But even if you were able to upgrade any or all of the flights, the fact that you end up travelling in business does not mean that you would earn the miles associated with business class on that particular flight.

this would have got me over the 25k miles to keep Silver on way to GOLD for next year. Any suggestions?

Another clarification - you don't need to "keep Silver" to make it any easier to get gold next year. With the exception of the "mileage rollover" that has just been introduced, you start each new year with a clean slate. Having silver this year does not of itself make it easier to requalify at silver, or go up to Gold, next year. You will start next year (with the exception of any rollover miles) back at 0 level miles.

I bought a full fare ticket due to fixed travel dates on KLM hoping I'd upgrade from Economy to Business with 25k miles only to be told no availability. Im not amused, ticket is $4500 discounted economy 1400, may go for discounted and hope my trip dates dont change and get a full refund, was looking forward to business and getting some extra miles, my Silver benefits expire Feb 2013, only have 2000 level miles, this would have got me over the 25k miles to keep Silver on way to GOLD for next year. Any suggestions?

Indeed: if the only reason to buy full fare was upgrade with miles, and upgrade is not available, it doesn't mean that you're stuck with a too expensive ticket. Full fare can be cancelled at no cost, so you could check if there is still availability for cheap economy fares. If so, you can cancel the full fare and purchase discounted economy instead ;)

Before you do so, make sure you verify availability of cheap fares and verify if you'll get a full refund on your current ticket.

Also - KLM tends to release seats 1-2 days out - so likelyhood of upgrade is not that bad.