Changing seats/categories on plane

No, generally speaking you can’t do this. The flight attendants know which Premium Economy and Business Class seats should be occupied and which shouldn’t. If anyone could just move to these seats without paying for them, no one would pay for an upgrade or buy these seats in the first place.

You can try, but the flight attendants know which seats are occupied and which are vacant, and they will probably not allow it.

You're better off asking in a very friendly way before you board. And bring chocolate for the gate crew and flight attendants. Can't hurt!

Airlines depending on your status will upgrade certain passengers prior to or at boarding usually to first or business class. If you want from Economy to Premium Economy, you should try to do it in advance. More than likely it will cost you.

And honestly, a gate agent is not really going to risk their job over chocolate so they could upgrade you to premium. One of my neighbors was a gate agent. Guess why he lost his job?

he took a gift from customers and upgraded them. unemployment followed

And the flight attendants are trained to watch those rows and they will notice. . They also in those cabins I have a list of people with your name so they come around to do the meals they will try to match your name up with their list.

I’ve seen several people over the years do the walk of shame back to their coach seats

If there are seats available in Premium Economy, can we move up to those seats?

No

Not a chance. They know who is supposed to be where. And there is an upgrading seats system with airlines; bringing a smile and chocolates isn't how it's done.

I was on a very empty domestic flight recently. Our row had 3 people and there were lots of empty rows. The flight attendant announced very sternly not to move seats. After we took off, the other flight attendant came over to me and said I could move to an empty row in same seat category. (I didn't request this nor did I have any prior conversation with her.) I said, but the other attendant announced not to move. She said, now that we are in the air it's ok. So I moved. The two flight attendants got into a big argument.

If you want to upgrade to premium economy then buy seats in premium economy. At the gate they'll have a waitlist for upgrade requirements prioritized by your frequent flier/membership status; all kinds of variables. But for someone who just wants to go from economy to premium economy with no status; you pay.

Ok, looks like the answer is a resounding NO. Got it! We won't try to do this, but may ask at the gate what the price would be. Does the price for Premium go down if there are seats available at check in?

The answer will vary slightly by airline as to the procedure of upgrading. But by and large, no. More room is highly prized and most often paid for.

I fly AA and they are selling those upgrades until the very last minute these days. Following that, free upgrades (moving up a class) mostly go by status.

Some European carriers allow you to bid for the upgrade.

But if you are able to see that they are actually empty and there’s not an upgrade list, you can always ask. It never hurts.

Edit: I was typing at the same time as you! But the answer is again going to vary by airline. I never try at the gate, but you might keep an eye out for offers in the weeks leading up to your flight. I was somewhere once where they were announcing upgrade offers at the gate - but it was still too high for my taste. Not a bargain at all. (But that was only once.)

You may have never noticed having your seat checked before, but it surely happens quietly (not so much in economy, but once you are seated in a seat in a better class of service, they're going to notice quickly). "Self upgrades" are generally frowned upon and likely to get you unceremoniously and quickly bounced back to your assigned seat. Your chances of slipping one past the goalie are near zero.

Remember, whatever seat map you are looking at only shows assigned seats, not sold tickets, so when you see lots of "open" seats it does not accurately reflect the number of people sitting there - just those seats that have already been assigned. Many people wait until the last minute to get seat assignments. And once online check-in starts, things start to move.

Once the flight starts boarding, all unsold/unassigned seats in Premium Economy and other forward cabins are probably going to be filled with upgrades as they work through passengers with some sort of elite status - they have a list and will be using it. So keep your expectations in check, unless you have some status or go through whatever official upgrade process the airline may offer, you're gonna be back in coach. Really, the only other way you might be able to improve your seat is to simply switch to a different unoccupied coach seat once the door closes (assuming there are any "better" empty seats, eg window/aisle or with an empty seat beside it). Moving forward to a seat in a different class of service...not gonna happen.

ETA: Discretion is the better part of valor.  ;)

Bottom line: Generally speaking, "upgrades" (even minor ones) are tightly controlled and going rogue (or dressing to impress) is not going to get you a better seat. Computers rule this aspect of our lives, like so many others. There are ways to get more comfortable seats on a plane, but tiptoeing to a forward cabin while nobody's looking is not one of them. YMMV.

Premium Eonomy is a separate class of service, just like Business class is separate. Depending on your airline, you may be offered to pay to upgrade to Premium Economy for several $100s.

And no, don't "try" to reseat yourself.

Does the price for Premium go down if there are seats available at check in?

In these these days of Dynamic Seat Pricing who knows. A lot of people are willing to pay extra for their preferred seat. Including my wife and I.

The next time you’re on a plane, watch for the flight attendant to walk through the cabin with an iPad, just before takeoff. They see where the empty seats are on the iPad.

the flight attendants know which seats are occupied and which are vacant

Personal experience this spring. Alaska Air flight to Hawaii.
Wife assigned 8D, I had 9C. After boarding was complete and the door closed, seats 8B &8C were empty. I moved to 8C.
As the FA was coming through the cabin doing the pre=flight check she asked me "where are you supposed to be?". I pointed to the seat behind me. I had not changed class. I got to stay in 8C.

My conclusion: they know which seats are supposed to be empty.

What airline?

You can probably check the price to upgrade but this varies by airline. For example, on United when you log in and view your trip, there is an option to upgrade where it shows the price (in dollars and/or points). Some airlines will also give you an offer to upgrade when you check in.

Does the price for Premium go down if there are seats available at check in?

Sometimes. On my last flight (Dublin to Washington), I got an offer to upgrade from Economy to Business for $600 when I checked in online. I didn’t upgrade, but this was lower than the price that was being shown when I had checked earlier.

PE and Business seats will be full by boarding time. Those who agree to pay at the last minute and people with various frequent flyer statuses will have been moved into those seats.

I have the Delta AMEX and a low level medallion status. I am frequently moved up from Economy to Comfort Plus on domestic flights. For the overseas flights I always book the Premium Economy or now sometimes even Premium Select. My reservations show which legs of the flights are upgrade eligible, and it’s rarely the overseas leg of the trip.

Hi Tammy! Have you gone into your reservation and taken a look at what an upgrade would cost? It's really not easy / ever to move up a class of service without going through the pricing process. Sounds like maybe the flight is United? You can usually book a higher class with miles and money. I've never seen that service to pay for an upgrade at the gate. Though there are (speaking about UA) announced upgrades made by status, for free. I have a pretty high status on UA, the last time I looked, I didn't even make the wait list, there were SO many people with higher status waiting for those seats, good luck!

I fly Basic Economy on Delta, so no status and the cheapest ticket (does not let you select a seat). On my last trip (Paris to Seattle), I was told to check in at the gate. The agent let me pick our seats from the remaining ones and upgraded us for free to Comfort plus (it was a full flight). I arrived early and smiled while asking for our seat assignment. The gate agents have some freedom to assign different seats before boarding. I do sometimes wonder if they like giving nice seats to some of the more financially challenged folks, just because we basic economy travelers very much appreciate the gift when offered.

When I have picked seats, I pick them at the back of the plane. Have never had a flight attendant not let us spread out to empty rows after boarding is complete (staying in economy). Lift up those arm rests and stack up the pillows, like sleeping on a couch watching TV.

"The flight attendant announced very sternly not to move seats."

Interesting- not experienced this before. And never had a cabin crewmember speak sternly either :)

I normally fly Singapore Airlines, and they're fine with people moving seats (within their class) after takeoff (not before). I would always ask before moving, but plenty of people don't. But yes, no moving between classes!

I normally fly Singapore Airlines, and they're fine with people moving seats (within their class) after takeoff (not before). I would always ask before moving, but plenty of people don't. But yes, no moving between classes!

I think that's the issue. I've never seen flight attendants get upset if someone stretches out into empty seats or moves, as long as it's in the same class. But don't try bumping yourself up to a more premium seat.

I was on a recent flight and the flight attendants made an announcement saying that the flight was only 75% full so people were welcome to move or spread out after takeoff, as long as they stayed out of the higher priced section. One woman sitting next to me tried going up 3 rows to the pricier area, and was promptly sent back a few moments later.

Simon,
It had never happened to me either, until it did, exactly as I described.

I do sometimes wonder if they like giving nice seats to some of the more financially challenged folks, just because we basic economy travelers very much appreciate the gift when offered.

How do gate agents determine who is financially challenged and who is not?

How do gate agents determine who is financially challenged and who is not?

You have a point. I suppose even those who have no issue with money could still buy basic economy tickets, be last to board with limited or no overhead bin space left, and run the risk of sitting in a non-reclining, middle seat by the bathroom.

Lynn, they could and do, all the time. Look at Warren Buffett. A billionaire living in the same relatively modest home since the 1950s.