I always had the impression that you had to book on the SPG website to receive gold/plat member benefits. I guess you still got it without issues booking through Amex PTS?
Yup - you need to call in to add your numbers to your Amex profile, but they send them on with the booking and you get full benefits from them. Something to do with Amex being a travel agent, not a reseller, or something. Either way, it works, you just need to let Amex know.
Took my wife in F last year and she was so happy about the Mai Tai, but then disappointed that everyone got it, not just F....lol.
I think the Y class pax get a smaller cup, and they don't get the POG Mimosa PDB!
Hawaii is probably the best service that AS provides, which helps the pain of paying the extra cash to get to the middle of the Pacific.