Picking up at airport

[Anonymous]

Our au pair is arriving tomorrow with Au Pair Care. We live in Chevy Chase. We are new to APC. With our previous agency, we have picked up the au pairs in Bethesda (bus) or at Union Station (train). Au Pair Care required us to book her on a one way ticket to either DUlles or National and she's scheduled to arrive at 4:30 pm at Dulles.

Can we send her in a shuttle or cab or is that awful in your opinion? It is a long drive there during rush hour. I don't want to start off on a bad note but I'm just wondering. I am going to work at home.

[Anonymous]

I would absolutely not do this (and I'm usually on the side of whatever makes life easier for the HP). Aside from the fact that Dulles is a huge airport, imagine how you'd feel if you arrive to a new city and your host family decided not to meet you. Yes it's a long drive, and you don't need to bring the kids if you don't think they're up for it. But you or DH should go.

[Anonymous]

We just got scheduled for a 1 pm MRI at Children's which was not expected due to my daughter's medical problems. Hopefully she will wake up from sedation easily but all of a sudden the day got complicated. That is why we are considering it. My husband is probably going to leave us at Children's and we will uber home later after she wakes up etc. I realize it is not ideal. It would have been so much easier if she could take the train or the bus like our previous 4 APs did.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Explain to the au pair why you have to change plans. Apologize. And get her a car.

You won't be any good if you're rushing there from your daughter's MRI.

She should understand given the situation. If not, that's another issue.

[Anonymous]

For a medical appointment, Ubering her is ok but not for a traffic reason. Can you see if another family or someone you know can get her?

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear about the medical issue, obviously that takes precedence. How about asking the LCC if she would do this for you?

[Anonymous]

Our LCC is on vacation. We don't have any family nearby. My friends all work. my husband will most likely leave us at the hospital and we'll just uber home after she wakes up. What a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our LCC is on vacation. We don't have any family nearby. My friends all work. my husband will most likely leave us at the hospital and we'll just uber home after she wakes up. What a mess.

do you have a relative or family friend who can drive you home from hospital?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would absolutely not do this (and I'm usually on the side of whatever makes life easier for the HP). Aside from the fact that Dulles is a huge airport, imagine how you'd feel if you arrive to a new city and your host family decided not to meet you. Yes it's a long drive, and you don't need to bring the kids if you don't think they're up for it. But you or DH should go.

Im this PP and given your situation I'd think differently. Is there no one filling in for your LCC? If not then explain the situation to your AP. Deeply apologize, say you hate that its happening this way and you feel terrible.

[Anonymous]

How about asking your LCC/Area Manager for the contact info of other host moms in your area. I'd be willing to pick her up for you (but unfortunately live in CT!).

[Anonymous]

APC makes clear that host families are required to pick them up. We got an email explicitly saying that they cannot take a train, cab, Uber, etc.

Their flight arrangements have been available for you to view for months before arrival. Yes, it's annoying but something you have to manage.

[Anonymous]

PP, please read the entire thread. There is a difference between “it is too hard” and “I have a child in a hospital”.

Op, I hope your DH picked up the AP, you got back home from the hospital safely, and your child is improving.

[Anonymous]

It was a crazy day but all worked out. Children's ran so late and then she had to wake up from sedation so we got home at 6:45. My husband had a difficult time finding her at Dulles and of course it was rush hour getting to Dulles too but it all worked well. My daughter woke up pretty fast in the recovery room and stopped being groggy so we were discharged at 6:15 pm. Not wobbly within 20 minutes. For whoever the poster was that said we knew months in advance, we just got scheduled for her MRI on Thursday at 4 pm b/c of a medical issue. That's why I was asking for advice. We didn't irresponsibly create a conflict.

At 7:30, the 5 of us were dining at Maggiano's in Chevy Chase and our new AP seems to be good so far! I'm so hoping it is a smooth year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was a crazy day but all worked out. Children's ran so late and then she had to wake up from sedation so we got home at 6:45. My husband had a difficult time finding her at Dulles and of course it was rush hour getting to Dulles too but it all worked well. My daughter woke up pretty fast in the recovery room and stopped being groggy so we were discharged at 6:15 pm. Not wobbly within 20 minutes. For whoever the poster was that said we knew months in advance, we just got scheduled for her MRI on Thursday at 4 pm b/c of a medical issue. That's why I was asking for advice. We didn't irresponsibly create a conflict.

At 7:30, the 5 of us were dining at Maggiano's in Chevy Chase and our new AP seems to be good so far! I'm so hoping it is a smooth year!

Good luck with the new AP and good thoughts for your daughter!

[Anonymous]

Thank you. We're of course still waiting for results but we were told that when it is really bad, they tell you quickly.