See if you can at least get all the way to Bali on Singapore Airlines, but if not, SIN is a good connection point to Bali and Phuket on the many discount airlines. Since you are planning ahead, you should be able to get good deals on the airfare, and yes, you are correct about the limited luggage allowances when you travel on the budget airlines. You may also want to try if Singapore Airlines or other * Alliance airline partners have vacation packages that covers the places you go.

Try to use your mileage to take you as far out as you can, and thereafter, travel within the area on the many cheap fares. I myself am now in the Asia region, and due to the peak travel season, I could not get reasonably cheap fares (i.e., less than US$400), so I tried my luck with United and was able to book a trip from MNL to SIN on SQ for only 20,000 miles.