You didn't think you'd score a date that easily did you?
Well, actually, yes.
As a man, I said I would be here at a certain time, I have scheduled my time off, told my friends I won't be available. Made sure I have money.
And as a man, I expect people to keep their word.
The best advice that I have heard, from a man, to men, is just assume the woman is going to flake. Because, in reality, about 50% of them do. So, have a backup plan.
To women: What you are trying to do is determine if he is a player. What you want to do is meet his friends. If he has good solid friends, who have been friends for years, he is not a player. If is friends are douchy, or seem like friends only because he is buying drinks, then he is a player.
All the other games that women play actually fail.
Because during the time when a woman is about to become fertile, the female body releases hormones that trick her. She will see a douchy character as being a diamond in the rough. She can tell how good/bad a guy is for her friends, but she cannot see it for herself.
Good mentality to have as a man.
For a woman, there is a saying "男人不壞女人不愛", literally meaning - man who is not bad, woman does not love.
As you said, it's easy to spot for her friends, but always hard for herself. No matter how experienced.
That is why, in Australian aboriginal societies, the female friends find male partners for their female friends and, equally so, males find female friends for their male friends. Namaste :)