1.
So I am planning to get from MEX-VIE via MAD on Iberia. I am gonna redeem Avios or AA miles. For some reason, if you search MEX-MAD-VIE for a regular $ ticket, an itinerary DOES show up with no problem. However, with Avios the itinerary does not show up even though there are award tickets available for the flights separately...just not joint I guess. Basically, the MEX-MAD-VIE itinerary is available with $ but not Avios...although if I do two tickets, one MEX-MAD and the other MAD-VIE they are available...weird.

My question is if I do that two-ticket itinerary...once I arrive in MAD can I just proceed to the gate for my flight to VIE even though it's on a different ticket? I mean I'll already be inside the airport...so can I treat it as if I had the joint itinerary with a connection in MAD? Of course, I would only have a carry on so no need for baggage claim. I'll also have my PCR test and all required for Spain and Austria. The connection is 1 hour and 15 mins so if I have to get out and back in I won't have enough time.

2.
A bit different scenario, IF the above, is not possible:
If I have residency in Austria/EU...am I allowed to enter Spain from Mexico? It was no problem from Austria to Spain last week when I visited Tenerife...but that was within the EU. Would they allow me to enter Spain if I come from Mexico to stay a night over and catch a flight to VIE the following day? I mean I am not a resident in Spain but I am allowed to enter Austria/EU with a residency permit so not sure how that would work out. I feel like I might have a hard time since I don't have residency specifically for Spain...