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As someone who has traveled to more than 50 countries over the last 15 years, I have learned quite a bit about what to do (and what not to do) to make trips go smoothly.

For example, I have an annual travel insurance policy in place for all trips. I have seen way too much go wrong for other people over the years, from being stranded due to flight cancellations to lost luggage, expensive medical emergencies and more. I also use a range of tips and tricks to save as much money as possible on every trip, from using credit card rewards for travel to being flexible with my family's trip dates and always traveling off-peak when we can.

One travel mistake I'll never make again is booking flights with an online travel agent like Expedia or Priceline, and I never, ever pay for airfare with anything other than a credit card. If you're wondering why booking direct with airlines and paying with one of the best travel rewards credit cards is such a big deal to me and other frequent flyers, here are the main reasons why.

Flight cancellations or having to rebook for a different time or date before your trip can be a huge hassle to begin with, but working directly with your airline means you can call the company and speak directly with one of its agents for assistance. That said, the same is not true if you book a flight with a third-party company since they are in charge of handling your booking and following the airline's policies. This means that, in the case of a flight cancellation or a rescheduled flight you want to change, you have to contact the agency you booked with to get the situation sorted out.

Online travel agencies aren't known for having great customer service, and hold times can easily last several hours. In fact, a quick Google search can easily lead to stories from consumers waiting on hold for hours to speak with a representative at online travel agencies.

On the flipside, however, most major air carriers have pretty decent customer service reps that can help you resolve your issue in a reasonable amount of time. As a Delta loyalist and frequent Delta flyer, I know for a fact I can call Delta directly and get on the phone with a representative in 10 minutes or less the vast majority of the time.

What happens if you booked your flight with a third party and your itinerary is rerouted after your trip is already underway? There's a chance the actual airline you booked with will ultimately move you to a flight that still works for your travel plans, but you could also get moved to an itinerary with a punishing layover or one that connects in an airport you have no intention of visiting.

Either way, your actual airline may not be able to work with you on a resolution, and will likely ask you to reach out to the third party you booked with for help instead. This can mean sitting on hold for hours in a crowded, loud airport terminal to speak with a representative, or even missing out on the replacement flight you wanted while you wait.

While booking directly with airlines makes it considerably easier to reschedule a flight or get a refund when your flight is canceled, I also pay with a rewards credit card no matter what. After all, my favorite travel credit cards offer points or miles for each dollar I spend, and travel spending helps my family earn more rewards we can use for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises and more.

Some travel credit cards even offer bonus points that apply when you book airfare directly with airlines. For example, I always use my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for airfare with Delta because of the bonuses it offers for Delta flights. I typically use my Chase Sapphire Reserve® for all other travel because of the rewards and protections it builds in.

If an air carrier overcharges you or refuses to refund you for a flight cancellation and you paid with a debit card, you can dispute the charge with your bank and hope for the best. However, credit cards come with more robust protections when it comes to disputes thanks to the Fair Credit Billing Act.

This consumer protection law gives credit card customers the right to dispute incorrect or unfair charges over $50 if they are in the wrong amounts, inaccurate, or unauthorized. Disputes can also be filed if a consumer is due a refund based on a flight cancellation and the airline refuses to grant one.

Finally, credit cards come with zero fraud liability, which is incredibly important when you're making pricey purchases online (e.g., buying airfare through an airline website or mobile app) and trying to prevent credit card fraud before it happens. Further, the absolute maximum you can ever be liable for when it comes to fraudulent credit card purchases is $50, and the same cannot be said for debit cards.

In fact, the Federal Trade Commission says reporting fraud on a debit card more than 60 days after your statement is sent to you can lead to losses of "all the money taken from your ATM/debit card account, and possibly more — for example, money in accounts linked to your debit account."

Products in this post: Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card