Hi Cadlina_mac,
I have recently found some great info on farecompare.com that helps with this type of planning. Helped me understand the booking process more.
I have done the booking pattern as described by Quero however it can be difficult for US residents to purchase tickets online from domestic airlines in other countries; it may be very easy for people living abroad like Quero to work the pattern in reverse.
For example:
3 years ago I booked a trip from Honolulu to Manila and then tried to book a connector flight on Cebu Pacific from Manila to Cebu. All seems to work fine on the website until you try to pay. It became a huge hassle involving multiple phone calls, photocopying ID, and etc etc etc just to get things processed.
Best way in the end so I found was to do things by phone: first call your credit card company and tell them to allow payment processing from the airline(s) you will use. Get a cheap phone card like the good ones at Costco or Sams club and call the foreign airline directly and get them to book the flight & email you the itinerary (trust me it is the cheapest way).
The second time I did this everything was very cheap and easy
If you have a bit of time you might want to book your connector when you get to the country...sounds a bit risky but if it is a highly traveled route it can be cheap and easy and you will get the locals price.
We did that last trip to the Philippines. We flew to Cebu and then spent a few days with family and booked a connector to another island quite easily during the first afternoon after arrival. The only quirk was that they only took cash at the ticket office! Mind you...it was in the Philippines
I hope some of this was helpful,
Your humble co-traveler,