For my business travel (which is most) I have to use a contract TA. But, I do my own research and basically tell them the flights I want unless they can come up with something drastically lower cost.

For my personal travel, I don't use a TA except...I am 60 miles from an airport and there are times when I must be ticketed and it is not worth the agent's fee for me to drive up and back. For example, when using a companion certificate, you must present the actual certificate for ticketing, and so I have no choice. Those of you who live close to an airport or a CTO are very lucky.

Hotels and cars I do on my own usually on the internet.