Not sure if this is news to anyone but upgrade inventory is based on individual sectors.
Flying ABC-IST-DEF. As per Seats Aero, ABC-IST-DEF has J4 and I4 availability. However, the TK system only lets me upgrade leg 1 (ABC-IST) with miles. Upon checking both legs separately ABC-IST had J4 I0 but IST-DEF was J0 I0 & C4 D4.
This implies that upgrades are pulled from J and that even if there is open availability for a married segment, TK won't let you upgrade unless there's J availability on individual sectors. Sad