Help accessing bootloader for root access

[sunandmoon]

Hello! I am trying to root my ZTE Sonata 2, and all third-party user-friendly apks and exes have failed me. I think this is because the phone came out fairly recently and there was a change in kernels in 2014(??)
Anyway, I am now attempting to simply use android sdk commands via my pc, which all goes fairly well at first
--sdk tools installed in c drive
--correct drivers for zte handset
--device connected w/usb debug mode
--registers with "adb devices"
The method I've seen is to start it in bootloader mode with "adb reboot bootloader" then enter "fastboot oem unlock," but my phone just reboots normally and "fastboot oem unlock" just returns with "waiting for device"
Also, the device won't even show up with "fastboot devices"

It's a ZTE Sonata 2 running Android 4.4.4 KitKat and a Windows 7 laptop

I'm 100% a beginner with this stuff, so the problem might be really obvious, but I've had zero luck just searching around.

 

[antiwine]

It might be because zte has started locking there bootloader

 

[sprockkets]

Actually, from what it looks like, it isn't locked at all. It is using an old school way to update it. My old Samsung Exhibit 4G works in similar fashion, in that it too, has no bootloader lock.

While turning the phone on, hold the up vol key. You'll get a recovery. With my old Samsung phone, I just applied an update and it took it, no questions asked, which then gave me CWM recovery.

I can't find any recoveries or TWRP for the phone though. Hope this helps!

Oh, and if you find via google a rom or recovery for this phone that requires surveys to fill out, they are most likely scams. Why? they all have bs posts from facebook and from the page itself that are mirrored all over the place over multiple domains - I would NOT trust them!