How long do you generally wait before meeting someone online for a drink?
You could always get their phone number first but I don't see the point when you can just meet in a bar or something.
There's only so much game you can run online before you get into the so what do you do kind of subjects?
I've had enough IOIs, interest in what I do, adding you on social networking sites that it should be easy enough.

Don't you think you can get into a realm of losing interest after a week or so of just online chat?

I messaged some chick on Sunday night, we are going for a drink tonight at 7...

the faster for me the better as like you say you can easily run out of steam online

On the other side, is it best not to ask if you know you can't meet them for at least a week later or could you say how about next week as I'm away?

My tried and test online formula (over many 100's of conversations) goes line this ..

First message:
Quote something interesting/funny in her profile in the message title.
Open message with some funny comment/banter about what you quoted.
Ask her an easy question, interview-style questions work just fine at this point. Don't ask tricky questions or any bullshit like "if you could be animal what one would it be" etc your trying to make this as easy as possible for her to continue the conversation.

Second message:
You need to pace it so that conversation covers a couple of days in order for to her feel comfortable so don't reply the same day but the day after you get her message back.

She probably asked you a question back, quite often "and what about you ?" throwing the same question back at you. Answer it, again no particular trickery needed. Maybe add in a bit of random banter then end the message with "Anyway, we should talk properly, my number is xxxxxx". Don't make it a question and don't ask directly for hers - I cant stress this enough. This will nicely tiptoe round any giving-number-out-to-strangers unconscious reaction she may have.

Consider delaying the give-her-your-number ploy for an extra message exchange (or even two) if you sense she needs more comfort building time like maybe she lets on shes never met anyone of an internet site or something like that. As above stick to one message exchange a day.

Almost without fail she will send you hers back or sms you or even call you. Chat for few minutes about any old shite, again no super duper "lines" or tricks needed, then casual close the conversation with "so .. fancy meeting up some time ?". Note I did make it question this time as it just seems more natural and basically you wouldnt have got this far unless she was up for meeting.

The same structure is a good starting point for online/instant chat as well - a couple of short chat sessions on consecutive days culminating in the give-her-your-number ploy but there are more variable and you have to play it by ear more - you might even be able build comfort and get the number in one session.
One thing that helps "oil the wheels" with an online chat is some sexual reference in your profile just something in there like "oh and of course I'm great in bed" etc this will give her opening to escalate the chat session to a sexual level. IME you should always let a woman make the first sexual reference in a chat session but then you pounce on it and escalate it. Once this has happened then a meeting and/or shag should be forth coming, possible that night if your really smooth

Nice! Never thought of that giving the phone number bit, i normally keep messaging and being at sea alot go away and forget about them until i get back

online i rapidly escalate
if i am just after a shag i`ll sexually frame the conversation starting with slight hints
if she is a hottie like a model or a lapdancer who gets hit on a zillion times a day i`ll keep it 'friendly'
i`ll get her number within either a few messages or if chatting within 20 minutes
txt a little bit and/or arrange a phone chat to show her how awesome i am -- phone convos build massive comfort and bring them into real life when just messaging never would
meet up

the end

sorry to say but online is shallow as fuck its allabout your pictures, how you look.
if you are an ugly gimp keep away from online

You say that but then I already had 1 girl ask to meet up after just 1 message for a friendly chat. There really are no set rules, just guidelines. Sometimes you can tell, sometimes not.

OOI, if you run out of steam online, which is easy to do, how do you rescure after say a week or 2.

Unless she feels like she has to call but isn't ready yet.
If someone gave me their number, I wouldn't necessarily give mine back and expect a call.

ive done this once, she mesaged me... we met... i fucked her off

what type of girl is willing to meet someone from the internet

I think you are mixing 2 types of girl here.
There are plenty who are happy to meet off the internet these days...and still play hard to get or just want to meet socially.
Any girl who starts talking sex in the 1st 2 messages and meets up quickly for sex is clearly a slapper.