Anyone have suggestions on the cheapest way to get Bali from either Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok(preference). I'm flying United and plan on leveraging SWU's, since United doesn't fly directly to Bali, I need an alternative airline.

http://www.airasia.com

http://www.jetstar.com

Garuda Indonesia

To expand on the above messages, Singapore is the best placed locale in regards to cheap flights to and from Bali. As listed, Jetstar has reasonably priced flights a few times a week from Singapore to Bali, and they're easy to book online. If you want to earn miles, Qantas often has good prices on Singapore-Bali as well, easily bookable at www.qantas.com.sg - worth a look too. Adam Air often has reasonable connecting flights available via Jakarta as well, especially if you book at the last minute (unlike most airlines, the cheapest fares on Adam Air are usually available a week before departure). You can check them out at www.flyadamair.com

Air Asia only flies from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur direct to Bali, so you'd have to get to one of those cities first before being able to take their cheapo flights.

From Bangkok or Hong Kong, there's only the traditional airlines that fly the routes (so Thai from BKK and Cathay Pacific from HKG). You can also seek out connecting flights on other airlines - Malaysian Airlines - www.mas.com.my or Royal Brunei - www.bruneiair.com can have cheap fares in the region sometimes, and they're bookable online.

garuda , has in the past been cheapest ( i have used a few times.). I would also check what packages travel agents are offering w/ hotel . even if u dont need room , sometimes its a great deal. w/ Air Asia and jet star , should have good choice.
Travel agents could have good CX deal .

For people who don't care about miles, Singapore Airlines offer quite competitive Sweet Deals rates from SIN to DPS, though they're applicable only to couples or families.

beware the cheap airlines - check out the delays they run over the last few months, often up to 10 hrs. CI have cheap deals ( on CI website ) but it means you go HKG TPE first but then again if you buy Y ticket and pre book yur seat upstairs on the 747 you sit in biz class on a Y ticket and then the airbus from TPE has 2 4 2 seats and many people rave how god these are

How is Garuda ?

for the route SIN-DPS, Garuda wants just over $300US RT and Singapore Airlines was $1200+

I only want to fly Garuda Indonesia whenever possible within Indonesia.

I've flown Garuda dozens of times, and I'm still posting.

Garuda is fine, it's the national carrier, has reasonably modern equipment, and I feel as safe as I do on any developing nation airline. For $50 extra I'd take SQ, but not for the amounts you are quoting.

Yeah flying Garuda is almost as safe as crossing the freeway with a blindfold on and a 75kg back pack strapped to your back. I am sure they have one of their dodgy planes grounded at TPE due to not being safe to fly, it looks well used t say the least