If I am booking on AA.COM, I can choose Restricted or Unrestricted fares, but not if they are booked in (for example) S class (and only get 50% EQP) or V class (for 100% EQP). Unretricted gives me very high H or M fares.

In the past I have tried:
1) Just been patient, and keep checking back every few days until the 21 or 14 day window passes and the cheapest fare flips to V, but I've been caught losing out and getting M anyway.
2) Phone AA and request it be booked in V, and forego the on-line booking bonus.

Does anyone have a trick to force V or otherwise get a fare that preserves the EQP value at the lowest possible price?