AMEX Velocity Platinum Card - Free Flight Query

[dreamweaver2611]

I booked the flight in September.... cancelled in October, re-booked in December for travel in Feb. The AMEX call centre were not very helpful. They quoted me $800 to book MEL-SYD-OOL. So i just booked MEL-OOL over the phone with them, which cost me $195. They then emailed me my ticket, i called Virgin and made the amendment direct with them to travel MEL-SYD-OOL... no fare difference, just a change fee of $35. The chick at AMEX was telling me I couldn't book what i wanted, nor would i earn status credits....