Wouldn't a CK also bump out an EXP regardless of time of request? I was #1 on the list and upgraded as boarding began on IAH-DFW last Thursday. Toward the end of boarding, the FA comes over to me and hands me a BP for 9C, she apologized but said that they had a late check-in but the other PAX was a CK member so they allowed them on the flight and gave them my F seat. I thought it was strange, but its such a short flight so I didn't argue. 9B was unoccupied and the F FA took great care of me during the flight, but I did find it interesting that the check-in cutoffs didn't apply to a CK. After taking 9C, I looked at the UG list and sure enough, I was #2 and the CK who took my F seat was #1.