Should I book one ticket all the way through?

If you are flying from far away, booking one ticket is safer for luggage transfers. However, flying into a major hub like Singapore and booking a separate budget flight to Indonesia often saves you $300+.

What is the best day to fly?

Mid-week flights (Tuesday and Wednesday) are consistently cheaper than weekend departures for routes into Jakarta and Bali.

Booking flights to Indonesia

To get the best price, book your long-haul flight into Jakarta (CGK) or Bali (DPS) at least 3 months in advance. Use a VPN to compare prices from different regional servers and always check local carriers like Garuda Indonesia separately from global search engines.

Choose your primary hub. Decide if you are starting in Java (Jakarta) or Bali. Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta) is the primary international gateway with the most flight options from Europe and the US, while Bali (Ngurah Rai) is the primary hub for travelers heading straight to resorts.
Set up price alerts. Use Google Flights to track routes to CGK and DPS. Set alerts for your specific travel window at least 4 months before your intended departure date.
Check regional low-cost carriers. Once you land in a major Asian hub like Singapore (SIN) or Kuala Lumpur (KUL), check budget carriers like AirAsia, Lion Air, or Citilink for the final leg. These airlines are often missing from major US-based booking sites.
Verify baggage policies. Most Indonesian budget airlines have strict weight limits (often 7kg for carry-on). Buy your checked baggage allowance online during booking; buying it at the airport counter can cost double.

Should I book one ticket all the way through?: If you are flying from far away, booking one ticket is safer for luggage transfers. However, flying into a major hub like Singapore and booking a separate budget flight to Indonesia often saves you $300+.
What is the best day to fly?: Mid-week flights (Tuesday and Wednesday) are consistently cheaper than weekend departures for routes into Jakarta and Bali.