double-blind study - an experimental procedure in which neither the subjects of the experiment nor the persons administering the experiment know the critical aspects of the experiment; a double-blind procedure is used to guard against both experimenter bias and placebo effects.
No they get more expensive, airlines will always advise you to book in advance to take advantage of their best fares. Sometimes they do a special deal but not within a week of flying. I would try another airline or make different plans.
Minimum Advance Purchase. Airlines increase prices dramatically 14 days and 7 days before departure, respectively, according to figures analyzed by FareCompare. To avoid these sharp spikes, you should aim to purchase your ticket a minimum of 15 days prior to departure. Air travel experts at FareCompare say that the window for purchasing tickets at the best price is between three months and 14 days in advance.