As EXP, I've been told more than once that it's basically my call if I want to be bumped or not. If I don't want to be, I won't be, period, end of discussion. Not having an assigned seat doesn't matter; someone else will be, and I'll get his/hers. If I want to be, I'm at the head of the list - barring some other EXP making the same request earlier.

Not one of the published benefits of status, but it seems to work.