Time flies when you're having fun, but not when your plane is grounded at the airport.
Consumer advocacy group Choice wants Australian airlines to pay up for flight delays and cancellations deemed within their control to fill a gap in consumer compensation.
Its latest research reveals there is no fixed financial compensation for consumers left grounded in Australia for issues including turnarounds and mechanical problems, despite almost a quarter of passengers experiencing a flight delay or cancellation in the past year.
Choice's Tom Godfrey says 63 per cent of those affected reported receiving no assistance from their airline.
This is in stark contrast to the standardised compensation of up to $A900 for airline passengers affected by major delays in the European Union, Mr Godfrey said.
"Compensation should be fair and standardised, no matter what airline you're on or what the customer service agent decides you deserve on the day," he said.
The issue, topping the list of problems associated with domestic and international air travel, has prompted Choice to create complane.com.au to streamline the complaints process nationwide.
Australian airlines currently have varied approaches to comforting passengers when things go awry.
A spokesman for Qantas and Jetstar said Australia's extreme weather is the major cause of their delays and cancellations, with "a very small fraction" of flights grounded for more than three hours for any other reason.
"Ultimately, passengers want to get to their destination more than they want compensation," he said.
"We will always prioritise safety over schedule, even if that means delaying a passenger's journey.
He added that alternative flights, food and drink vouchers and accommodation are typically offered for "things that are reasonably within" Qantas' control.
A Virgin Airlines spokesman said the airline also prioritised safety and "proactively communicate with guests" when disruptions are unavoidable. Hotel accommodation and food vouchers are provided depending on the circumstances, he said.
Tigerair customers affected by delays within the airline's control are contacted via SMS and email, with a full refund and hotel accommodation offered to customers "who are not in their home cities overnight", the carrier said in a statement.
