Originally Posted by Xplorer
No!
Consider this:
Suppose you are flying IAD-FRA on a 777. Your seat number is 32G, which is a "normal" E- seat. Now, imagine that there are a bunch of empty seats available in rows 24-26 (E+). Although it is not 100% "legit", I do not think too many people will raise an eyebrow if you moved from your seat to, say, 25C (considering it was empty). .... I am even willing to bet that if you plolitely asked the FA if you could change your seat, they more than likely wouldn't give you too much hastle.
I've personally seen, twice, FA tell people that they cannot move to E+, that it is a different fare (after they moved on their own accord!)
That, combined with the fact that it costs extra! to sit in E+ without status... seems like more of an op-up than not to me. Definitely a SMALL op-up, but still an op-up.