Originally Posted by
FlightDetective
Exactly. It's just inexperienced staff, all the OP needs to do is try again.
All the guff around the DoT and credit cards and what not can be avoided by just going back to the airline. It's not rocket science

And if he tries again with the airline and gets another just inexperienced staff? He then should do what? Try again? It is so weird how difficult some of you make your lives when there are so much easier and substantially better alternatives. Ah well...