Flight prices move for reasons that have almost nothing to do with you, which is why watching them is such a common source of anxiety. A little understanding of how they work removes most of the panic.
Prices are supply-and-demand, not a lottery
Airlines price seats the way hotels price rooms — early birds, late buys and everything between. There is no conspiracy against your specific search; there is a plane that is filling up and another that is not.
The window that works for most trips
For international flights, booking roughly two to four months ahead usually sits in the stable middle: not the cheapest possible, but well clear of the late-buying spike. The cheapest fares exist, but they come with the least flexibility.
The one number that matters
Total cost of door-to-door: fare plus luggage, transfers on both ends and the value of your own time. A cheap flight that lands at 2am into an expensive taxi is rarely the bargain it first looks like.
Set a number, not a date
Decide what you are willing to pay, set an alert, and mentally book it the moment it hits. Deciding your 'good enough' price in advance is what separates calm travellers from people checking prices at midnight.