Brisbane couple Rod and Mary Burrows were on a long-planned overseas trip with friends.
Mrs Burrows had been a civilian employee with the Queensland Police Service for 16 years.
The couple had three children and were reportedly expecting their first grandchild in April.
Mr Burrows' mother Irene Burrows spoke to her son just days before the plane's disappearance.
"He was very excited about going. It's not their first overseas trip but it was planned for a long time," she said.
"[We are] just waiting for some sort of news. If they've found the wreckage or if they can tell us ... how can a plane just disappear?"
The couple's son Jayden Burrows says his parents worked hard to reap the rewards of their retirement, so they could travel and spend time with family and friends.
"We dearly love and we'll miss our mum and dad," he said.
"The love and compassion that they shared and their priority of putting their family first will help us get through this together.
"We're heartbroken this stage of their life has been cut short.