Air Travel Insurance In The 1950's.

[sapelesam]

During a discussion with friends, I mentioned remembering automatic life insurance policy dispensers at Heathrow. I think you put in a number of shillings, a policy and envelope came out of the machine, you filled in your name and posted it to a loved one. Everybody suggested I must have been smoking something, I was 6 years old. Can anybody confirm if I'm correct.

[hc4361]

I remember those vending machines - you haven't gone cuckoo

[hc4361]

http://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/a-look-back-whatever-happened-to-airport-insurance-vending-machines-22593.aspx

[hc4361]

Mentioned here, about the UK vending machines

http://uk-vending-machines.co.uk/about-vending-machines/history-of-vending-machines/

[Jackdaw33]

Vending machines of all types were ubiquitous at the time. I used to use them to buy cigarettes as the machine couldn't check my age.

[sapelesam]

Thanks hc, facinating links, it's great to know I wasn't making it up. And to think I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday.

[hc4361]

Of course those policies fed on peoples fear of flying. Nowadays, should a plane crash and lives be lost the relatives would sue for compensation

[Prudie]

Not only do I remember them (not from the 50s) but am sure you could buy that when I flew to US in 1982.

[hc4361]

Prudie, wasn't travel insurance mandatory when flying to the US in the 80s?

[Prudie]

I really don't recall having to buy travel insurance back then.

[hc4361]

My memory's foggy on that score, too

[237SJ]

I don't think travel insurance has ever been mandatory. People used to book holidays via travel agents and would be told that they "had to use our travel insurance" to get that particular deal but that was just sharp practice

[EDDIE51]

I remember them at Luton Airport in the early 1970s.

[EDDIE51]

You can buy a lot more than travel insurance from a vending machine in Japan !
https://www.techinasia.com/japan-used-panty-vending-machines-fact-fiction

[RobNorth]

Travel insurance is not and never has been mandatory.

[zebo]

I'm sure that I saw one at Gatwick South Terminal in March, through security,

[johnk]

There are limits on the amount of compensation airlines have to pay so it's best to be insured if you have dependants

[hc4361]

Medical insurance is mandatory to enter many countries.