Edit: thank you everyone, the overwhelming consensus is the parents pay and I’m a little silly to think otherwise. BUT it’s considered a nice gesture if the family member/aunt/me can and is willing to pay.
My niece is coming to visit me in a few weeks, and I’m looking forward to having her. She came a couple years ago, but my sister and I met halfway. This time, she’s flying. My instinct is to offer to cover the flight, but over the last 2 months I’ve had over $2k in unexpected expenses in a year that has been one unexpected expense after another.
But it got me wondering, what is the norm? Are parents expected to pay when sending a kid to family? Or should I pay? Offer to split it evenly? She came with a little spending money last time, but I covered pretty much everything but the gifts she got her family and friends.
I know I could just ask my sister, but I am curious how other families arrange these sorts of visits.