I mean if it were me, and I'm middle class with upper class tastes, and I was paying, I'd buy Premium Economy on VS (Virgin Atlantic) and save the miles. If it was West Coast, then maybe, but if you take the 8AM out of JFK it's not even a sleeper flight going out, and none are coming back.

I am going to LHR in November to see a tennis tournament and did some comparison on the 140K Upper Class/DeltaONE vs buying and I got a VS Premium Economy ticket for $902/pp and am earning 6,904 MQM's and 5,400 sky miles. I bought it on the Delta web site even. I don't know if Delta Premium will be around then for you but that's also an option if you are set on DL metal.

For me: Upper Class/Delta one was 140K miles and $268 in taxes fees and VS Premium Economy was $902 with all taxes and fees, so literally "only" $634 more than an award ticket. If the same rough pricing applies to you, then you will save 280K Sky Miles and saving $6300 in spend for a pretty nice flying experience for 8 hours. And you will get the MQM's! If you want the Clubhouse experience, that's $75/pp at each spot so up to $450, but still puts your savings at $5850 and you've got a comfortable seat, upgraded dining, the Clubhouse, priority security and luggage and again, nearly $6K and 285K Skymiles.

I did cash in 140K for LHR this summer but I am going out from SFO so a 10 hour journey makes that cost more palatable, and PE is more from the west coast.

http://www.virginatlantic.com/us/en/...m-economy.html