I had twice the same experience with a "friend". We bought the tickets from Europe to South America, payed for it, made hotel reservation etc. The day before departure he told me that he wouldn't be able to join me because of "so much work on his job"... Well, that guy is no longer my friend as it happend also a second time with him.

On the other time, I once met a FT fellow for another trip to South America and everthing was fine.