Australians’ least favourite airline is Tiger Airways, says a new survey.

Choice magazine  has just conducted the The Domestic Airline Satisfaction Survey and ranked Tiger the lowest, with a 55% rate of satisfaction. Jetstar got second-lowest ranking, with a 60% satisfaction, while Virgin Blue got the best marks with 68% satisfaction.

Travellers appreciated Virgin Blue’s friendly staff, although some deemed its quirky on-board banter annoying.

Internationally, number one spot went to Singapore Airlines for overall satisfaction, with a 78% mark, with Emirates next in line, followed by Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific. Jetstar got the lowest for international satisfaction, with a 53% rating. Qantas came in second-lowest, with 59%, and third worst was Virgin Blue, with 65%.

Tiger Airways There did get some good news; it was voted number in terms of value for money, at 75%.

The poll arrives as the New South Wales Office of Fair Trading said it got 1546 travel-related complaints in the 2008/09 year, in comparison with 1200 in 2007/08 and only 1006 in 2006/07.

Unsatisfactory service, cancellations and non-listing of fees and prices are all considered complaints.

But a Fair Trading spokeswoman said simple complaints or allegations against a company doesn’t mean that the business had broken the law.

“Fair Trading recommends consumers always check the terms and conditions on airline tickets when booking travel – especially regarding inclusions/exclusions, cut-off times for check-ins and changing the days and times of travel,” she said.