Just to update....I called the diamond line another 10 times or so over the next few weeks. Expert flyer continued to show business class availability and DL agents continued to say there was none. I asked one employee how she was searching and if there were any other ways to check, to which she responded that she's been working there many years and if there was a way to do it she would know. Finally found an agent that knew the process and she was able to get the seats. She said they just have to manually request from TN. My takeaway, expert flyer has the correct info, be persistent in calling DL when you see space open up because the seat should be able to be booked using miles.
It's such a shame DL has so many agents that don't have a clue what to do. But it's inexcusable to have DM agents who don't know. These should be the most senior and creme de la creme of agents.
