Should I book connecting flights separately to save money?

Only if the savings are substantial ($300+) and you have 4+ hours between flights. Book through the same alliance when possible. If your first flight is delayed, separate tickets mean you're stuck paying for a new ticket.

Are there specific months to avoid for expensive flights?

December-January and July-August are peak season with 40-60% higher prices. Chinese New Year (February) also drives up regional prices. April-June and September-November offer the best deals.

Do I need to clear customs if I have a long layover in Asia?

Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan offer free transit tours for layovers 5+ hours. You'll clear immigration but it's worth it. Otherwise, stay airside - most Asian airports have good food and wifi.

Should I use miles or pay cash for Southeast Asia flights?

Use miles for business class upgrades, not economy tickets. Southeast Asia flights are often reasonably priced in cash, so save miles for expensive routes like domestic US flights where cash prices are inflated.

How to Find Cheap Flights to Southeast Asia

Book Southeast Asia flights 2-3 months ahead for the best deals, with Tuesday and Wednesday departures typically 15-20% cheaper. Use flexible date searches, consider multi-city tickets instead of roundtrip, and fly into budget airline hubs like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore.

Search 2-3 months before travel. Southeast Asia flight prices peak 6-8 weeks before departure. Start monitoring prices 3-4 months out, book when you find a good deal 2-3 months ahead. Avoid booking more than 5 months early - airlines haven't released their best inventory yet.
Choose Tuesday or Wednesday departures. Midweek departures cost 15-20% less than weekend flights. Tuesday departures from North America are consistently cheapest. Avoid Monday and Friday departures - business travelers drive up prices.
Use flexible date searches. Search +/- 3 days on Google Flights or Skyscanner. Even shifting by one day can save $200-400. The month view on Google Flights shows the cheapest days clearly marked in green.
Compare hub cities. Bangkok (BKK), Singapore (SIN), and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) often have the cheapest long-haul flights. Bangkok is usually $100-200 cheaper than other Southeast Asian cities. Fly there first, then use budget airlines for regional travel.
Consider multi-city over roundtrip. Book open-jaw tickets: fly into one city, out of another. Often costs the same as roundtrip but lets you avoid backtracking. Example: into Bangkok, out of Singapore saves time and sometimes money.
Check airline sales and error fares. Follow Scott's Cheap Flights (Going.com), Secret Flying, and airline Twitter accounts. EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines run flash sales 3-4 times yearly with 30-50% discounts.
Use budget airlines for the final leg. Fly major carriers to the region, then book separate tickets on AirAsia, Scoot, or Jetstar for regional hops. Bangkok to anywhere in Southeast Asia is usually under $100 on budget carriers.

Should I book connecting flights separately to save money?: Only if the savings are substantial ($300+) and you have 4+ hours between flights. Book through the same alliance when possible. If your first flight is delayed, separate tickets mean you're stuck paying for a new ticket.
Are there specific months to avoid for expensive flights?: December-January and July-August are peak season with 40-60% higher prices. Chinese New Year (February) also drives up regional prices. April-June and September-November offer the best deals.
Do I need to clear customs if I have a long layover in Asia?: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan offer free transit tours for layovers 5+ hours. You'll clear immigration but it's worth it. Otherwise, stay airside - most Asian airports have good food and wifi.
Should I use miles or pay cash for Southeast Asia flights?: Use miles for business class upgrades, not economy tickets. Southeast Asia flights are often reasonably priced in cash, so save miles for expensive routes like domestic US flights where cash prices are inflated.