I don't think it's fair to blame UA - even if there was just one Y cabin all the windows and aisles could still be pre-assigned leaving only middles. In fact, with the slower take up on E+, at least there's a choice to pay to sit together on UA whereas on other carriers the only choice might be to hope for reassignments at the airport. And to those who say UA should fix the problem for families... In this case, how? It's totally unfair that people who booked and got seat assignments at the window or aisle (presumably because they wanted those seats, or at least didn't want a middle on a long flight) should be arbitrarily shifted to accommodate the whims of some group booking after them. I know I wouldn't want swap a window or aisle for a middle on such a flight unless the carrot offered for me to move was an upgrade to C. In this case there is a way out without messing other passengers about and potentially spoiling their trip, but sitting together doesn't seem to be important enough for to the group to pay the E+ fee to do so. So the OP needs to hope for some silvers moving to E+ at checkin, for some good will from some other passenger at the airport who is prepared to do a long flight in a middle seat, and in future to book early enough to get E- seats assigned together.