Aussie flown to ‘party with wealthy men’ using controversial new travel matchmaking app

A new “invite only” app connecting women who want “to party with wealthy men” has sparked concern – but this Perth user denies it’s “sleazy”.

A Perth woman who was flown to Miami to “party with wealthy men” through a new matchmaking app has shut down claims the platform is “sleazy” – revealing the trip inspired her new career.

Grace Louise, 30, went on a luxury holiday to the party capital of America after being approached by FlyMeOut, an “exclusive invite only travel platform” that says it connects groups of “like-minded travellers”.

Members who make it through the “exclusive” application process are able to host trips or apply to go on trips, with those in the latter category often having the financial burden of the getaway covered by the hosts.

If you think it sounds too good to be true, you’re not alone.

The US-based “travel matchmaker”, which launched in June 2023, has garnered criticism after many expressed concerns FlyMeOut appeared to function like a dating app – with many noting it appeared to be used by rich men looking for attractive women to join them on holiday.

As a result, some shared fears for the women using the service, arguing it was a “crazy” idea that “could all go horribly wrong”.

Grace Louise, from Perth, was flown to party in Miami by a group of guys using the FlyMeOut app. Picture: Instagram/graaceelouisee

“Dating with an extra sprinkle of danger,” remarked one woman on a TikTok video.

“Sounds dangerous,” remarked another, as one said: “This feels absolutely sinister.”

The app’s creator Zachary Latos said the firm is “highly selective” about its members and insisted “one-on-one trips are not permitted”.

“We interview and vet every community member as part of the application process, but much in the same way the internet cannot be policed at scale, nor should it be, people are encouraged to use good judgment and we ask our users to abide by our guidelines and use common sense,” he told news.com.au.

“Communication among members can only happen once they’ve been accepted to join an event or if they have previously travelled or attended an event together.

“So unlike online dating, where you’re free to message and swipe on anyone you’d like, there are limitations to how members use FlyMeOut.”

Grace said she was flown out to enjoy a “luxury” week-long party holiday with two friends by four men she’d never met before, stating the trip was “very professional”, and that there was “nothing sexual or sleazy” about the experience.

“We had our own accommodation and everything was looked after. The concept is that you just party with the rich guys and you make them look good,” she told news.com.au.

“It was very professional, it was almost like a private Contiki, because they had flown other girls out too so there was more girls than males.

“They just took us around to the different restaurants, we partied on a yacht, and we went to the clubs at night.”

Women online have expressed concerns about the ‘invite only’ travel matchmaker. Picture: TikTok/@madisonrolley

Former lawyer Zachary Latos gave up his ‘lucrative job’ to launch FlyMeOut in June 2023. Picture: Supplied

Given the first-hand accounts of users, and the brand’s own marketing – which shows a group of three men who have selected two women via the app for a stay with “flights included” and a suite with outdoor plunge pool” – it’s easy to see why FlyMeOut is being compared to a dating app and why that is alarming to some.

According to a survey published by the Australian Institute of Criminology in October 2022, three out of four survey respondents have been subjected to sexual violence while using dating apps in the last five years.

In January 2023, the National Roundtable on Online Dating Safety was formed to address sexual violence facilitated by online dating platforms.

Grace, who went on an all expenses paid holiday with two friends, insisted there was ‘nothing sexual or sleazy’ about the experience. Picture: Instagram/graaceelouisee

But Mr Latos insists “FlyMeOut just isn’t a dating app”, claiming “a lot of the concerns raised are fear based and are from people who have not used the app”.

“Our platform is designed to connect members with like-minded individuals for group trips and exclusive experiences, not for dating purposes,” he continued.

“The app is a novel concept, and we’re quite ambitious with what we’re trying to accomplish. For some, that goal may seem a bit lofty or even cerebral.

“I think when some people hear of something new or different, they have an urge to connect or relate it to something they already know, in this case online dating.

“Furthermore, the look and feel of selecting members who apply to join your trips resembles that of other dating apps. But all of our experiences are group experiences. It’s far different from the online dating world.”

In fact, the Instagram model enjoyed the experience so much she’s now turned it into a new career, travelling the world to party with wealthy men. Picture: Instagram/graaceelouisee

‘You just party with the rich guys and you make them look good.’ Picture: Instagram/FlyMeOut

Exactly who can join, and what criteria they have to meet to be accepted, is being closely guarded for now – but a scroll through the firm’s tagged photos on Instagram shows a sea of young women on trips.

A recent group travelled to Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas where images and videos show the women adorned in bedazzled bikinis and fetish gear while dancing the night away.

Another group hit the Cayman Islands, posing for endless snaps in micro bikinis that were all tagged to include FlyMeOut.

Despite the glowing reviews from its few participants so far, it hasn’t stopped people expressing concerns online, with some women labelling the concept as “crazy”.

“Going to a different country with a guy you don’t know is such a bad decision,” one argued online.

“This is wild, hell no,” another agreed.

There were fears women could put themselves in ‘dangerous’ situations by flying to meet groups of men they’d never met before using the app. Picture: FlyMeOut

Mr Latos insists ‘FlyMeOut just isn’t a dating app’ despite the fact it has drawn several comparisons. Picture: Instagram/FlyMeOut

Grace described the backlash as disappointing, arguing life is about meeting new people.

“I find it so interesting that these narrow-minded people just go straight to a dark place,” she said.

“If you think about it, you go on holidays and party with random people at your own expense without a second thought.

“This is just a group of young guys who want to have fun with a hot group of chicks. It’s all very professional.”

This is a sentiment shared by Mr Latos, who said he left his “very lucrative job as a lawyer” to create the app after being frustrated by how much we’re all “glued to our phones” in the modern world.

“People make calculated decisions every day, be it going on a blind date, introducing themselves to a colleague and going for drinks after work, chatting with people across the world through social media, etc,” he stated.

“The fact is that this type of travel and connection has been happening for decades…but in closed, private messaging groups, online forums, message boards, and so on.

“We’ve taken it a step further to build a level of in-app transparency into the process and organise and help facilitate the process in a group travel setting.”

In Grace’s case, she loved her brush with FlyMeOut so much, she said it completely changed her career – with the Instagram model now regularly flying around the world “to party with strangers”.

In recent months the holiday entrepreneur has been paid to travel to Dubai and Bali, marketing herself on Instagram, rather than using the app.

“The trip really invigorated me,” she shared.