KLM Flying Dutchman - Upgrade from Econ to WBC using FD points

I'm sure these questions have been asked before, but I couldn't find the post.
1.If I want to request an upgrade from Economy to WBC, how can I check whether there are seats available on a specific flight?.(I don't want to pay for an economy seat only to find that I can't upgrade due to no seats being available in WBC)
2. I assume that an upgrade is valid on any booked economy fare class(i.e. not just full economy/Y)

many thanks for any advice..

1.
You can use the Availability Tool

http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~hartberg/ft/AvailabilityToolSetup.exe (when it's up) and get lines such as

KL691 J7 C7 Z7 S7 B7 Q7 etc etc, (Z effectively being 'upgrade' class, if it says Z7 theoretically there are 7 or more Z class seats available).

You can then ring FD and be told "This is not possible", ring FD again speak to second agent, be told same again, ring FD again and then you might get somewhere...

The earlier you call the better, you cannot upgrade through the FD Non-helpdesk less than 48 hrs before departure.

2. KLM do not supposedly distinguish classes - though recent reports are saying they are.

You can then ring FD and be told "This is not possible", ring FD again speak to second agent, be told same again, ring FD again and then you might get somewhere...


:D

Calling the FD Helpdesk immediately before buying your Y ticket to check for upgrade availability can add a little peace of mind, and usually works for me. Once you have your ticket number, you should of course immediately secure the upgrade.

Some recent caveats:
- the KLM computer keeps both the eco and WBC booking for a few days, and then is supposed to eliminate the eco one. Since 2004, I have found it sometimes eliminates the WBC one, so keep checking :td:

- also a 2004 enhancement is the failure to get any mileage credit for some upgraded flights, as the computer seems to view them as free tickets. You'll find this out when you see those flights credited with 0 miles on your paper statement, as the online statement doesn't list them.
The procedure to reclaim those miles then goes:
1. call FD and convince them those were upgrades
2. wait 2-3 weeks and find out you were credited with non-level goodwill miles for the missing legs
3. call FD again and try to convince them you really would prefer level miles
4. one poster reported getting extra goodwill miles for the trouble...

IIRC, this must be done 2 weeks in advance, although this is reduced to 48 hours for Platinum (possibly other levels too).

I've had no problems (in my limited experience of upgrading) in getting the miles to post recently - they just posted with 'free upgrade' afterwards.

Nice to see someone else from Lincoln on this board, especially since HUY isn't THAT close by!

PEs seem to be upgraded from Z class and GEs and down from I class - so make sure I class is available before you book your ticket. A call to KL should do it. The fare paid for your ticket makes no difference.