Taking the advice of those here regarding Asian airlines, I debated between Eva Air Elite and Singapore Air Economy. I found a good deal on a Singapore Air Economy flying through Singapore. It's DAL -> LAX -> SIN -> SIN (you get off the plane and then back on in 1:30 hours) -> DPS.
The Eva Air Elite was going to be $1800 but required an overnight stay in San Francisco during one of the flights. I got the Singapore Air for $1300 and then added another $200 to put myself on row 41 (exit row) in a middle seat, and a window seat. The only people complaining on that row were ones that were in the isle seat and they said they were bumped all the time. Being in the middle, I hope that doesn't happen.
With this configuration, I saved $300 and hopefully have the same (or better) leg room due to the exit row. And, hopefully there are no screaming babies in the middle section next to me (with the bassinet seats), but then I'll have ear plugs. I leaned towards this configuration since everything I had read said that the service/food/etc. was better on Singapore Air vs Eva Air. So this way, I get the best of both worlds -- better service, and the legroom.
Now I need to decide whether to do a long (10 day) liveaboard in Komodo, or pick a shorter one and spend some time diving Bali and/or other islands. Hopefully this place is as great as everyone says because the flight is going to be worse than when I went to Thailand 11 years ago