How to upgrade 8 awards to the next class?

Hi
So I’m probably trying to do the impossible but I’m up for the challenge.

Want to get 8 (yes eight) UC reward tickets LHR-LAX (one way) next August.
(It’s not that impossible as I see that Tues\Wed at 330 days there is availability (+ some other random Tues\Wed).)

If there is no availability on my days I’m quite prepared to book a lower class and then see if UC becomes available.

So here’s my question.
If I book say 8 PE’s (on one PNR-I’m the lead ) would that mean any upgrade to UC would need 8 seats or can I upgrade say 1 out of the 8?

If I have to split the group (3 families) if\when an upgrade occurs can I (as the bill payer) upgrade 2 Pax or would one of them have to do it?

Make sense?
Last Q
Is there another (online) way to check rewards for Virgin as the Calendar is not that accurate and is time consuming.

The demise of reward.com I sorely missed. KVS and Expert flyer do not sem to support VS (May be wrong)
ANA tool any good?

[Neil]

You can upgrade one at a time, but it is likely that it will mean splitting any upgraded ones on to another PNR. You, as the lead booking will be able to do the upgrade assuming the miles are coming from your account or you are an authorised user on the account where they are coming from.

There isn't any easier way to look for reward seats I am afraid.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Is there another (online) way to check rewards for Virgin as the Calendar is not that accurate and is time consuming.

The demise of reward.com I sorely missed. KVS and Expert flyer do not sem to support VS (May be wrong)
ANA tool any good?

Only the KVS Tool supports VS Award Availability:
http://Help.KVSTool.com/#VS