Thousands of Qantas passengers around the world have been left stranded by the airline's decision to ground its entire fleet over an industrial dispute with employees.
Protracted pay negotiations fell out spectacularly on Saturday afternoon, with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce grounding more than 100 flights around the world.
Qantas has been fighting with three unions representing pilots, ground staff and engineers for months, but Mr Joyce says he was forced to make the "unbelievable decision" because negotiations were not working.
The travel plans of at least 80,000 people around the world have been thrown into chaos, with angry passengers scrambling to find accommodation or flights with other airlines.
Confused passengers have been queuing at Qantas sales desks desperate for information on how they are going to get home.
"We're just ready to board and it's all become very chaotic and we don't know where we're staying tonight," one passenger told the ABC at Sydney airport.
"It's not being fair and rational in my opinion. You should be able to talk these things out, not do things like this," another stranded passenger said at a Melbourne airport.
International delegates, media and federal government ministers in Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) have also been affected by the grounding.
The CHOGM taskforce says 17 heads of government were booked to fly out of Perth on Qantas planes from Sunday. It is now trying to find alternative ways to get them home.
Some Nigerian delegates who left before the planes were grounded are now believed to be caught in transit in Singapore because there are no onward flights.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was booked on a Qantas flight out of Perth on Saturday afternoon, but has returned to the city.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is due to leave Perth on her private plane on Sunday.
Many customers at Sydney airport were waiting to board flights to the United Kingdom, Africa and Tokyo when they were told their luggage was being offloaded and their flights cancelled.
"I just can't believe that they're doing it to be honest. I'm at a loss," one passenger said.
"I'm a bit annoyed, especially when Mr Alan Joyce got his big pay rise yesterday," another traveller said.
A Greens staff member, Tim Hollo, was on board a Qantas aircraft when the grounding happened.
He says the captain told passengers he did not know what was happening.
"Eventually he said 'still don't know what's happening but you can turn your mobile phones on while we wait'," he said.
"A few of us on the plane switched on Twitter and found out that Mr Joyce had grounded the entire fleet, shortly afterwards the captain told us to get off and wait.
"And about 20 minutes after that they told us all to leave the airport because there weren't going to be any flights."
Passengers at Melbourne airport lashed out at Mr Joyce.
"It's irrational - he's not showing any commonsense; he shouldn't be in a position of power to be able to do that to people, mucking around with people's lives," one traveller said.
"Everyone just couldn't believe that Qantas had decided to be that stubborn and ground the fleet," another said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has sent extra consular staff to airports overseas to help Australians stranded there.
A spokesman for the department says extra staff are also on duty at the consular emergency centre in Canberra, which has been flooded with calls.
People stranded overseas are being advised to deal with their travel providers directly where possible.
Qantas says it is organising alternative flights and accommodation for stranded passengers, and refunds for people yet to travel.
With flights grounded indefinitely that promise will come with a hefty price tag.
Angry outburst
Qantas passengers on the airline's Facebook page have expressed anger at the company and the unions after the airline decided to ground its entire fleet.
Updates on the Facebook page read: "Qantas Reservations (13 13 13) are experiencing high call volumes, we appreciate your patience".
Hundreds of passengers trying to call the airline reacted angrily to the news.
"Been on hold for almost 1.5 hours but determined to get through. Supposed to fly home from Cairns to Brissy at 10:00am tomorrow," Cristie Hollis said.
Alex Moriarty wrote: "13 13 13..... how ironic. Not your lucky number today QANTAS".
Sinead Downes said: "Ruined a family reunion", adding a colourful insult.
But Denise Bristow sided with the airline.
"Why blame Qantas? Blame the unions - they have pushed to this point. And don't bother asking Julia for help, she is a unionist herself," she wrote.
Numerous Facebook pages have been set up by passengers and the public reacting to the dispute.
They including one called RIP Qantas with the description reading "16 November 1920 to 29 October 2011. Died aged 90 at the hands of Alan Joyce".
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