It was supposed to be the trip of their young lives: eight students from Butler College on a marine studies excursion to the Cocos Islands.

Best friends Monique and Lili were excited about their first big trip without parents.

The 16 year-olds were supposed to fly home with Virgin last Tuesday.

Five days and four cancelled flights later and the excitement has turned to tears.

Their parents are almost 3000kms away in Perth and feeling helpless.

“Your stomach just goes, drops when you hear your child crying. You just want to be there for them.” Natalie Shannon, Monique’s mother said.

“When you're a father and you just want to get your little girl and you can't,” Darryl Shannon said.

“Mum? The wifi is not good I can't call you. I know, I know. Mum? (breaks up) Is that what it's been like? The whole time.” Vicki McFarlane, Lili’s mother said.

Ms McFarlane said getting answers from Virgin Airlines has been difficult.

“We haven't had any communications from them really,” she said.

The parents say they learned the first two flights were cancelled because of a lack of airline staff and bad weather but the last two were cancelled with no explanation.

It cost $3500 to send their kids on the excursion and now with the extended stay, costs are mounting. A loaf of bread on the island costs $15, a lettuce $12, and a single chocolate bar, $7.

The parents say the $50 compensation offered for each student per day is not enough.

“We just want our children home,” Mrs McFarlane said.

A Virgin spokesperson said the airline had had problems with crew sickness and bad weather, and was hoping to get the students home tomorrow.