UK based Delta Platinum considering Flying Club

As my name suggests I'm based in Sheffield and my usual route is MAN or LHR to Atlanta which I do 4-5 times per year. I fly a combination of economy/business and could probably hit 40 tier points for Gold if I credit to Virgin instead of Delta. Since MAN-ATL is going to Virgin in March 2015 I'm considering switching to Flying Club. The main things I value are upgrade availability and preferred seating, the later comes free on Delta. I travel with my family at least twice a year so having benefits extended to them is a plus.

At the moment Delta ticketed Virgin codeshares are not upgradable so if I fly MAN-ATL in 2015 I'm probably better off with a Virgin ticket. But would I be better off as Virgin Gold or Delta Platinum? Any thoughts from the v-flyer experts?

How much US domestic flying do you do on DL? If it's a reasonable amount I'd probably stick with DL Platinum as that'll probably give better domestic upgrade availability than VS Au.

VS Au will give you Economy Comfort on DL plus lounge access for your TATL flights. As MAN-ATL is a new VS route it's very hard to predict what upgrade availability will be like though.

Thanks for the input. I don't do a lot of domestic US flying, mainly just direct flights UK-US. TBH even as a Plat complimentary upgrades are hard to come by especially out of ATL. Delta is becoming increasingly stingy with the Skymiles program. 2015 will see the introduction of revenue based earning rather than miles flown among other things.

I understand your dilemma as an ex Delta elite flyer!
Some years ago my main passage to the U.S. was Delta MAN -ATL which was convenient for me. At that time they also offered JFK from MAN and if I remember correctly EDI? What goes around comes around as they say and I understand some of these routes are to be resurrected.
At the time reward availability was relatively straight forward, as long as you had some flexibility, but I had found the product becoming a little stale and decided to jump ship!
Virgin Atlantic seduced me with their promise of "something different " and I was fortunate in quickly gaining a AU stautus which I have managed to retain for some four years.
Now for the reality check! If you are MAN based one of the ultimate benefits is lost, I mean access to the Clubhouse, which London travellers take for granted. UC is generally excellent but Delta have been catching up, the attitude of the Cabin Crew can make or break a trip. Some of the trip reports seem to have been written through a haze of Redheads and "Rose tinted spectacles" as to be candid gloss of the advertising and the actual on board service have been on the wain!
If MAN is to remain your preferred airport I would stick with Delta. Over time I think they will absorb VA or at the very least dictate how things are to be run, certainly in terms of the product, frequent flyer programs etc, the only difference eventually will be the exterior paint on the aircraft!!

I assume the MAN-ATL airport config will be LHR based, it being more business based (they're starting this service soon right?). If its LGW, then its the usual lack of availability to upgrade to Upper on that route...

Yes MAN-ATL will be on an A333 so 33 UC seats as opposed to 14 on the 744s.

I would endorse the comments from hazban. The main advantage with VA gold is the access to the lounge in LHR - apart from this there is very little in the VS FF scheme so unless you fly from the south not sure what there is to offer in MAN.

VA has a very open policy from a revenue protection perspective, that no upgrades are offered for premium flyers unless they have paid for it (or redeemed miles).

I have been gold for 5 years. I normally fly economy at the cheapest rate which excludes the ability to upgrade using miles so I do not expect any upgrade and have never been disappointed. Although I have been upgraded on board to PE by benevolent CC staff.

Both AA (I am gold with BA also) and Delta regularly upgrade me on their domestic flights and I fly with Delta internationally next week to USA so will see what happens then.