So, I have 1 more ecert left unused from this batch. Maybe it was this particular batch of 'defective' ecerts from an irrop. if the sister ecert to this ecert also causes problems, i'm gonna think its just a bad batch of corrupt ecerts that somehow register the booked flight as an 'award'.
ill report back after i used the sister ecert. cuz i refuse to think a random lightning strikes twice like this. too weird.