Au pair wants to arrive in uk at midnight, so home by God knows when....

[Childcareisscary]

Au pair is looking for the cheapest flights and has suggested arriving a week later, and her flight gets in at midnight. I'm just a bit nervous about this. The week later is fine, because I asked her to come two weeks early just to relax and get to know us. I don't need her at all.
But arriving home at crazy o'clock, should I just consider that she's paying for the flight and just grin and bear it? Or am I within my rights to say, rather not. Also by coming a week later she loses a weeks worth of pocket money, so she's actually losing money as opposed to saving it. But I didn't want to haggle at this stage of our relationship.....

If you want her on a specific flight why not offer to go halves/make up the difference?

Is there any feasible public transport for her at that time or a nearby travel inn? If you're unable to collect her at that time just tell her, surely it is better to be upfront. Could you pay the flight price difference for a more convenient arrival time?

I have just checked, the next train isn't until 4am in the morning, so I don't think she will pick that flight.

Regarding paying her ticket, I'm a lone parent on very low income. I'm getting an au pair to give my child a bit of consistency and support, but don't have extra finance to assist her unfortunately.

I'd just leave her to it, but let her know you wont be up until x o'clock in the morning so she wont be able to get in the house until then.

It's one thing to inconvenience yourself to get cheaper flights, it's quite another to inconvenience others - especially your new ap family.

If you really have no money to help with her ticket then are you sure you can afford an au pair?

Bloody hell ChippingIn - you can't leave her to her own devices in a strange country overnight, what would you think if some one did this to your offspring.
I assume that this is a young woman we are talking about. You want her to work for you and she is paying her own flight, you can't tell her to spend more if you won't make up the difference. I think you will just have to make the best of it and collect her.

If it will cost you a week less pocket money (and food etc I would guess) couldn't you use that to help fund a flight that would arrive when it suits you better? Would you still be out of pocket that way?

Thanks all. She booked a different flight which I'm very happy about.