Emirates are right,
airlines are required to either:
- allow consumers to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund without a penalty for 24 hours, or
- allow consumers to reserve a ticket (place it on hold) at the quoted prices without paying for the ticket for 24 hours.
Airlines are not required to offer both a hold and a refund option.
So you went with a reservation and you are allowed 24 hours, you paid and now the fare rules apply. Cant have it both ways