Travellers scramble for flights

Kristy Clinton, husband Aaron and their children Emma, Matthew and Lachlan arrive at Melbourne Airport after rebooking on Qantas from Brisbane.

Joe Armao - Brisbane Times

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PASSENGERS caught up in the Air Australia collapse have had to pay as much as $3500 to return home despite some airlines offering special discounted mercy flights.

Thousands more remain stranded in Hawaii, Thailand and Bali as they scramble to secure tickets on flights, and pursue refunds for their flights with Air Australia, which was placed in administration on Thursday.

Many of Air Australia's 100,000 affected ticket-holders could receive no compensation, having either paid for tickets with cash or taken travel insurance that does not pay out in the case of an airline's collapse.

Angry customers took to Facebook yesterday to vent their anger at travel insurers, banks and airlines that have been embroiled in the drama.

Hundreds of passengers bought tickets through the coupon website Scoopon.

Read more at Brisbane Times.