Originally Posted by
flyerCO
I thought you should be able to pay to "upgrade" to a normal coach fare. I knpw you at least used to be able. As long as you don't change flights they used to let you pay the differrnce between E fare and a Y fare. Try that. Simply tell them you didn't realize that you wouldn't be able to select seats. There shouldn't be a change fee if they still do this.
I have never heard of an upfare option for E fares. You can go from main cabin fares to C+ or premium cabin, but you can't go up from E fares to main cabin (nor C+/premium cabin) as far as I'm aware. They seem to take the non-changeability of E fares pretty seriously.
Ultimately, I think OP is overthinking this one. Not everyone is an ogre and there will be people on the aircraft sympathetic to a couple of honeymooners who want to sit together. Getting a couple seats together if you are willing to sit in middle seats should not be much of an issue.