Aloha! Welcome to a dud airline

Emily Marscham, 2, mum Kellee Marscham, and Dena Hamilton just after landing at Grafton Airport yesterday. The Air Australia collapse had stranded them in Hawaii.

JoJo Newby

THREE generations of a Grafton family were relieved to be back home yesterday after their holiday in paradise turned into a hellishly expensive ordeal.

The collapse of Air Australia stranded Aaron and Kellee Marscham, daughter Emily, 2 and Kellee's mum, Dena Hamilton, in Hawaii, adding three unwanted days to their trip and more than $2500 in costs they fear they will be unable to cover through travel insurance.

The family were happily exploring a zoo on Thursday when they received an urgent call from Kellee's aunt, telling them of the airline's demise.

What should have been a relaxing wind-up to their eight-day holiday - they were due back in Grafton on Sunday - turned into a test of endurance as they searched for emergency accommodation and tickets home.

"We thought at one stage we would have to sleep in a park," Dena said.

"Eventually we found some- where to stay, but it was just like a shoebox."

The drama continued as the family tried to track down flights to get home.

"We heard Qantas was going to match the price of Air Australia tickets," Kellee said.

"But when we called them they told us the tickets were going to be more than $1200 each, not the $350 we paid for our original tickets. It would have cost us $5500 to get home.

"Luckily Hawaiian Airlines were able to match our fares and we were able to get flights back to Sydney for around $1200."

But there was still plenty for the family to do. They had left Dena's car in Brisbane, expecting to drive home when they arrived there on Sunday.

"Aaron had to get a flight to Brisbane with most of the luggage to pick up the car while we flew back to Grafton," Kellee said.

"He will drive back this afternoon."

The family don't expect to see anything back from the extra money they spent to make it home.

"We've been told to put in a claim, although it says plainly we won't get anything," Kellee said.

Kellee and Aaron are due back at work today, but Dena is still on holidays and plans to put her feet up today.

"We've certainly seen enough of airplanes and airports," Kellee said.