FT exists not just for the benefit of the one individual who is the OP in this thread, but for the benefit of the community. The bottom line for OP's specific situation and putting aside all of the tangents in this thread is that he did not read the program rules.

Many people do not either. They may learn something here. OP apparently has no choice in booking channel, but many do. Knowing what they now know, they may book through a channel which affords them what they want.