classic bait and switch... she didnt show up, only him did...

so we drove an hour and a half to meet a couple at a wine bar in edinburgh. we get there, sit down, order drinks. ten mins later HE shows up alone. says "shes running late, traffic". another 20 mins. "shes got a headache she might not make it but lets get to know each other anyway". fortyfive mins in he was trying to convince me and my husband to "just grab a hotel room with him, shell join later" lol... obviously she was never coming. how common is this and is there a way to vet for it before driving that far again? we feel so stupid