Jason Maiolo was due to start a new job in Melbourne on Monday.
Instead, the regional manager of a motor vehicle manufacturer is stuck in Bali with his family, waiting for Tigerair's next available flight to Australia.
Holidaymakers' plans have been thrown into disarray after Tigerair was forced to cancel all flights to and from Bali on Thursday. It has now temporarily suspended sales of flights to Bali after the Indonesian government unexpectedly cancelled an agreement with the airline.
And while the airline is providing accommodation for stranded passengers in Bali, it will not reimburse the cost of accommodation for future cancelled flights.
Have you been affected by the cancellations? Email scoop@theage.com.au
Mr Maiolo, who is in Indonesia with his wife, Tonia, son James, and daughter Georgia, was meant to fly out of Bali on Saturday at 12.10am and be home by 7.40am that day.
But after having their replacement flight also cancelled at the last minute, the Adelaide-based family is now scheduled to get back at 7.25pm on Monday - nearly 60 hours later.
Mr Maiolo said he wasn't sure how his new employers would take the news about the delay.
"I was meant to fly into Melbourne on Monday morning, but that's not happening now," he said.
"I have sent [my employer] text messages. I can't speak to anyone, it's the weekend over there.
"It means stress at this stage. It has taken a bit of gloss off [the holiday]."
Daughter Georgia said the whole procedure was very frustrating and lacking in clear communication. She said their flight was postponed twice, only to be cancelled five minutes before departure due to technical issues.
Ms Maiolo said they were finally given an alternative flight to Adelaide via Brisbane, where they would have to wait another eight hours for the connecting flight.
"We got allocated on a flight to Brisbane, which isn't leaving until 9.10pm tonight [Sunday], so we won't arrive back to Adelaide until 7.25pm Monday," she said.
"After all the delays, it was a bit of rubbish. We were being screwed. It is completely unprofessional, inconsiderate.
"The communication from Tigerair has been absolutely ridiculous."
A Tigerair spokeswoman said they were communicating directly with all customers affected by a cancelled service as well as providing regular updates on their website.
But customers have also been demanding clarification about flights booked beyond January. The airlines' Facebook page is cluttered with messages from people confused about the viability of their holiday plans.
Point Cook resident Shine An said she was worried about her flight in May.
Another customer, Skye O'Shannessy had a ticket booked March-April and wanted to cancel her flight because of the "unknown".
Kayla Jade said if flights couldn't be "guaranteed" then a refund should be issued.
A Tigerair spokesman said the airline was currently offering refunds with fees waived on request for anyone with bookings for flights until February13.
However, they were confident of achieving regulatory approval for flights 'quite quickly'.
"We are confident of reaching a resolution with the Indonesian government in the short term to resume services to Bali, so passengers booked to travel with Tigerair in coming months shouldn't be concerned at this time," he said.
The spokesman said almost all passengers stranded in Bali had been accommodated either on Tigerair flights or alternative flights with Tigerair paying the difference and any costs in accommodation. People were being flown home depending on when their flight was scheduled.
