i use online booking - most times, the fares are higher than what my travel agent can get. other times, my travel agent and some others tell me that a flight is fully booked but i manage to book tickets on the website, albeit at a slightly less restrictive booking class and therefore higher price.
sometimes, the fares on the website are very competitive and cost the same or less for mileage accruable tickets (M/S class) as the non-mileage accruable tickets my travel agent usually quotes low low prices for (Q/V class)