Apologies if this has been answered recently, but my searches turn up only outdated information. I'm trying to book Iberia flights and avoiding the dreaded O or Q fare classes so that I get the full 100% AAdvantage EQMs (I prefer to earn AA miles). From my searches I see that this has been a persistently perplexing issue for years. How can I go about it?

I want to book directly on Iberia.com. I see that a few years back, people used the strategy of booking/holding flights before confirming the purchase and then checking the booking code on Finnair.com to reveal the fare class. However, the 5-digit Iberia booking codes don't work for me to check on Finnair.com. I did put an Iberia itinerary on hold for 72 hours for 5€, but nowhere in the booking/hold confirmation from Iberia do I see the fare class.

I see that others use ITA Matrix to match up the prices and classes returned on their to what is returned on the Iberia website. This doesn't work for me. The prices are totally different, and furthermore when I try to search by a code I want (like S) versus a code I don't want (O or Q, as mentioned), I often see the same flights at the same prices.

I've tried using BookWithMatrix.com but the click-throughs for purchasing are only on agency websites: FlightNetwork, OneTravel, and Priceline. I've always preferred to book directly with airlines, and that has proven to be even more important when dealing with pandemic-related travel interruptions. I see in my searches that most people agree with me on this, and some are even overtly warning against using some of the sites, like FlightNetwork.

I've tried using the ITA Matrix Powertools extension/script to click-through and purchase on Iberia.com, but there I still have the issue of absolutely no confirmation of the fare class I am booking. There doesn't seem to be any consistent way to know how Iberia's Basic, Optimal, or Comfort fares as named on the website line up to different fare classes. I can of course make a reasonable guess that Basic is one of the fare classes I want to avoid – either O or Q – but can I confirm that Optimal would be not be one of those? There doesn't seem to be any way to do that.

I can't be the only one out there who primarily flies Iberia/BA but prefers to earn AAdvantage.

Can anybody help with guidance on this? I'd really appreciate it!