same benefits? Not exactly. The benefits you speak of are universal though and apply no matter where you book - as long as you book the right fare (ie, you won’t be eligible for upgrades if you book a basic fare).

Many of us prefer to book direct, and only use the portal as needed. For example, to use the $300 credit each year. For me, the extra points on C1 bookings aren’t worth the hassle for most bookings as it can be more difficult to change, deal with schedule changes, etc. the good news about the C1 portal is it lays out the fare types very clearly so it would be very difficult to accidentally book a basic fare.