What if you fall ill on holiday and Scotty can’t beam you up?

Travel insurance: Columbus roll out last-minute policy kiosks at airports

Star Trek's Captain Kirk would have to pay nearly £14,000 in travel insurance for a mission to boldly go where no one has gone before.

That is according to insurance specialist Columbus Direct, which based its estimate on Kirk’s track record and the likelihood of danger from hostile species – such as Klingons and Romulans – in some parts of the galaxy.

The man at the helm of the Starship Enterprise would have to fork out £13,880 for travel insurance for a single five-year mission, it said.

Its calculations for Captain Kirk’s premium coincides with the roll-out of travel insurance kiosks at UK airports.

Columbus Direct said its groundbreaking selfservice digital kiosks at nine airports, with more to follow, would help to encourage more people to buy policies.

Recent research from travel association Abta found more than one in five people were taking this risk of flying off on trips uninsured.

According to Columbus Direct, Abta’s figures are on the conservative side.

It cited industry statistics showing nearly a quarter of holidaymakers travelled without insurance last year.

Millennials – people born in the 1990s or early 2000s – are the most likely group to travel uninsured, with only 69% taking out a policy, the firm said.

Alison Wild, head of marketing at the company, added: “Our customer insight has enabled us to identify a rise in the number of so-called lastminuters, who know they require travel insurance but simply haven’t got around to buying it in advance.

“Travellers have long been buying foreign currency or picking up rental cars at airports, so offering them the opportunity to purchase last-minute travel insurance makes sense.

“We have introduced the kiosk-led solution to make insurance purchase a hassle-free, simple process for busy people as well as for those who might not have given much thought to the matter prior to their trip.”

It is estimated travel insurers paid out £370million in 2014. Medical treatment was the most common claim, more than cancellation or lost and stolen possessions.

More than £206million was paid out to cover the cost of emergency medical treatment, or nearly £4million a week.

Columbus Direct said its policy for Kirk covered medical and diagnostic expenses, starship failure and lost or damaged “belongings and gadgets such as tricorders and phasers”.

Rob Thomas, head of brand at the firm, added: “Luckily for him, Starfleet owns the ship so they take care of the massive repair bill he racks up.”

“Nearly 25% of holidaymakers went without insurance last year”

ENTERPRISE: Columbus Direct are offering last-minute travel insurance policies at some airports for the estimated 20-25% of travellers who have not covered themselves for illness or other trouble abroad William Shatner as Captain Kirk