Touch n' oops…
Genuinely saying this:
I'd bet a months pay that…. The **ONLY** reason you got what you wanted was due to your immaculate timing, and the simple availability of the unit you wanted (and maybe a letter to JA??)... and absolutely NOTHING ELSE!! It was nothing to do with the kindness of their heart (I don't even think that department has a heart). That department is the worst one we have at EK. I would rank them even below the Staff Travel department for having things accomplished to your satisfaction.
Why such sour grapes you ask? Because my group of new joiners were told we'd be in temp accommodations for 6 weeks before moving into our permanent ones. Fourteen MONTHS (yes 14!!) later, we all got the email to start the moving process. After about 4 visits to them with tons of sugar to my conversation… and everything else you mentioned, they said, "No". I affectionately call them "The Dept of No".
It's all about timing and availability… and nothing else (In my experience & my humbled opinion)
Kap