Who pays for airfare/travel costs?
Airfare/travel costs are usually negotiable. If the aupair does not come through an agency, families and aupairs often split the cost of a roundtrip ticket. If the aupair doesn t have the money to pay for her/his half of the ticket up front, families can cover the cost and deduct the balance from wages. However, families’ feedback is that this option does not always have a positive outcome as au pairs sometimes cancel their contract after the family has paid for the ticket. The family then loses the money they paid for the ticket. Families may also agree to refund the airfare in full or in part, once the au pair has started working or once the contract has been completed.
