Is it cheaper to book a one-way or round-trip ticket?

For long-haul international flights, round-trip or 'multi-city' tickets are almost always cheaper. One-way tickets are often priced at a premium by international carriers.

Should I use a budget travel site or book directly?

Always search on aggregators like Google Flights, but click through to book directly on the airline's website. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, customer support will actually help you if you booked direct.

Booking Affordable Flights to Southeast Asia

The cheapest way to fly into Southeast Asia is to book a round-trip ticket to a major hub like Bangkok (BKK) or Kuala Lumpur (KUL) rather than flying into your final destination. Use Google Flights to track prices and aim to book 8 to 12 weeks before your departure date.

Use the 'Explore' tool on Google Flights. Instead of selecting a specific city, enter your home airport and leave the destination as 'Southeast Asia' or blank. This shows you a map with the cheapest arrival cities, which can save you $200+ by flying into a major hub.
Split your tickets. If you are flying from the US or Europe, check the price of a long-haul flight to a major hub (BKK, SIN, or KUL) versus your final destination. It is almost always cheaper to fly long-haul to the hub and then book a separate, low-cost carrier (like AirAsia or VietJet) for the final leg.
Set up price alerts. Once you have identified your target arrival hub, set a Google Flights alert for your travel window. Check these alerts daily and book the moment the price drops into the 'low' range identified by the platform.
Fly mid-week. Avoid Friday and Sunday departures. Tuesday and Wednesday flights are consistently 10–15% cheaper because demand is lower for business travelers.

Is it cheaper to book a one-way or round-trip ticket?: For long-haul international flights, round-trip or 'multi-city' tickets are almost always cheaper. One-way tickets are often priced at a premium by international carriers.
Should I use a budget travel site or book directly?: Always search on aggregators like Google Flights, but click through to book directly on the airline's website. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, customer support will actually help you if you booked direct.