Short answer — there isn’t a single perfect “most reliable” platform; but for accuracy and real‑time award availability most experts now point to Seats.aero (Pro) as the best all‑around search tool, while for end‑to‑end booking help you’ll want an airline’s website or a paid concierge/award‑booking service. (seats.aero.)

Why:

• Search accuracy / speed: Seats.aero delivers fast, live award‑inventory searches across many programs, and is widely recommended by travel sites for finding international award seats quickly. If you want a single tool to find availability, Seats.aero Pro is a strong pick. (seats.aero.)
• Beginner friendliness / concierge help: Point.me (and similar services) offer easier UI and can provide a paid concierge to actually build and book complex itineraries — useful if you don’t want to DIY. However, Point.me and other tools can be slower and have had mixed user reviews, so treat results as guidance, not guaranteed bookable inventory. (point.me)
• Alternatives and community favorites: PointsYeah, Roame, AwardTool and others also perform well in comparisons (speed, features and price vary). Different tools excel at different searches, so many experienced bookers use two tools (e.g., Seats.aero + PointsYeah/Roame) to cross‑check results. (awardwallet.com)

Important cautions (must read before you act):

• “Phantom” or stale award space happens frequently because third‑party tools scrape or query carrier systems; always confirm any result on the airline’s official website before transferring points or paying. Many outlets explicitly warn to verify availability on the carrier/program. (wsj.com)
• Third‑party tools rarely book for you; they find options. If you want guaranteed booking, either book yourself on the airline/partner site once availability is confirmed, or use a reputable award concierge (paid). Forbes and other reviewers recommend concierge options for white‑glove bookings. (forbes.com)

Practical recommendation (one‑line action):

• If you want the most reliable search for international award seats: start with Seats.aero (Pro) to find live availability, then immediately verify and complete the booking on the airline or partner site — or hire a trusted award concierge to handle the transfer and booking. (seats.aero.)

If you want, I can:

• Suggest which tool is best for a specific route (e.g., U.S.→Asia or U.S.→Europe), or
• List reputable award concierges and estimated fees for booking international business/first awards.

Which would you prefer?