$10k in 3 years? I used to get $3k-4k a year on AA without even trying that hard. My regular weekly trips, one of those was a 2:50PM Friday flight from ORD to MCI on a 727 that seemed to be oversold by about 40 people every week. Many, many weeks I'd take a $400-500 voucher and spend a few hours at O'Hare. I always used the vouchers for myself and friends...it was pre-eBay but I probably wouldn't have sold them even if I could.

Granted, I would think AA's oversell algorithms are a bit better these days...when I see oversell situations, usually they're looking for 1-2 pax and can get them for $200-300 each. But when I think about a serious "bump runner", I'd hope they're doing a heckuva lot more than $3k a year.

I don't believe airlines have any issue at all with habitual bumpees...it's the refundable tickets and gaming the system they have an issue with. Kind of like the whole plan to buy refundable F and then cancel it in hopes of freeing up an upgrade seat for yourself, a plan I can't imagine being successful all that often...