Using miles. What would you do?

OK, here is the scenario. It's a bit complicated, but I'm sure some of you have been there! I've got just over 50000 miles at the moment, soon to be 58000 odd after my latest spend and bonus 5000 miles with the new Virgin card. I've got a UC flight in November which I'm paying for which will take me upto about 80000 miles.

I'm going to Miami next March 22nd returning 7th April. I'm just trying to think of the best way to use my miles for this trip:

* Book a reward economy ticket now and then it's all done. I'm worried if I leave it, the reward flights won't be available, especially as my return flight is on Easter Saturday
* Wait until I have a few more miles and book a PE flight, which probably wouldn't be until late November. Will I be lucky to get a flight out and back at that late stage?
* Buy some miles now to try to get a PE reward flight
* Forget the reward flights and try for an upgrade to a purchased ticket

I know there are a few other scenarios. Life is complicated and I'll admit to not being that savvy. Let me know what you would do, or if there is something glaring I have missed.

Thanks for any advice.

Phil
[y]

[preiffer]

Book an Economy (L class) upgradeable ticket now.

Then,

a) you'll need less miles to upgrade to Upper and
b) you can upgrade once you have them against that ticket type.

Oh, and you'll earn 1x mileage when you're flying on the day based on your ticket purchase, too [y]

What Prieffer said! [y]

All assuming there is anything available to upgrade to else you've paid an extra few hundred £ perhaps for what amounts to a couple of thousand extra miles and a couple of tier points....

Go on to the VS Web site and check availability before making any decision, or ring FC and they'll tell you.

preiffer and others, thanks for the advice. I will give Flying Club a ring and see how it stands for upgrades at the time I'm planning on going and if all is well, it looks like an L Class ticket is the way to go.

Thanks again[y]

Phil

In the end I bought an L class fare out which I upgraded to UC and a Z Class back as there wasn't availability on the dates I wanted. I'm going out a day earlier to catch the upgrade, but that's no issue and will earn a few miles too, which I'll use anyway. So I will be very much looking forward to another suite experience.

Thanks for the advice here and on other posts too. It almost made me look as though I knew what I was talking about when I rang Flying Club

Phil