AP's flights - who pays?

[Mendi]

Am chatting with an Italian girl on AP World. No AP experience but seems nice and eager. She has asked me if I pay for her flight, or pay a contribution to it. I had thought the AP pays for this - what is the norm?

Au pair pays both ways (but you pay air fare home if you ask them to leave).

Thank you. Also, I wasn't wondering about the timing of pay. Normally in a job I would expect to pay in arrears, but is that what you do for an AP? I wouldn't want to pay for a month up front and run the risk she decides she doesn't fancy it after all and nicks off home.

From her point of view I can see most of then have no money and will need some.

What to do?

The au pair pays to get to the UK. You pay to get her from the Port of Entry to your house.

Do not pay the air fare!

Pay the pocket money weekly.

We paid for our last au pair's final trip home after successful completion of her stay with us. I'm not sure how common this is though. I would never consider paying up front before they arrive as you don't know how long they will last or whether they will even turn up! I'm pretty sure AP World advises not to give money up front or even pay for the air fare. There are plenty of au pairs to chose from who will have enough money for the flight (although they often lean on their parents for this!). Remember they will also need money for language classes unless you are offering to pay for those or can enrolled them on a free course.

Hi,
It is the AP's responsibility to pay for their flights. But we offer to reimburse them after 6 months. This kind of tells me they are serious about staying at least six months (absolute minimum for us, we always look for APs who want to stay for preferably 12 months or longer).
I pay my AP on Fridays. I think weekly pay is the norm rather than monthly.

Thanks all. I think I will say no to flights but consider offering later on the pay return flight home if she's been reliable.

Do you pay them cash or do you get them to set up a bank account?

It is up to them to decide. Our APs preferred cash because setting bank account in the UK demands additional money (since they don't have a proper job).