Originally Posted by
ziggy29
Are you talking about paying with points, or charging your Amex on the portal? If the latter, you don't even *need* to use the portal with the Amex Platinum since it gives 5X points on airfare whether you use their portal (which is just Expedia, really) or direct through the airline. Given that, I'd book direct every time if paying cash and not points.
I have the personal Platinum and typically use it to book directly with AS at 5x but I'm exploring getting the Business Platinum to using MR points to redeem flights for 35% off. Booking via transfer partners is ok sometimes, but I like the idea putting my floor value of MR point as 1.54cpp in EQM earning Alaska Airfare when I have no big international trips planned.
But above all else I value ease and do not want to get stuck in a phone tree vortex when my flight gets cancelled last minute to save a few bucks.