These additional details are helpful to an understanding of your OP. One more question - how many miles were they originally going to credit you and how many miles did they finally credit you after making that "one time exception"? A substantial difference in EQM and RDM?

I'm not entirely clear what happened to bkc6j, but I assume it too involved a shorting on miles because of a difference in calculating them based on individual legs or segments vs doing it on orgin to destination, as when ticketed with one flight number all the way through, notwithstanding intermediate stop(s), even change of planes along the way. (Right?) I do wonder how great the differences in EQM/RDM yields can be. I take it from bkc6j's experience 11 months after the first one, they do keep and consult a "permanent record" that tells them whether you have previously benefitted from a "one time exception."

So, does "one time exception" mean they will not do this particular "favor"/ concession ever again, or is it still worse, meaning they will never again grant any "favor"/concession? Hmmm...the "permanent record"!