I live in the UK and travel 2 or 3 times a year to the USA. The cost of roaming is expensive so I’d like to try an e-sim. But. I’m having trouble getting my head around how to actually use an e-sim. If someone can walk me through this I would be grateful:

- I live in the UK and have an unlocked iPhone 11 with a monthly UK plan using a physical sim.
- Can I just buy an e-sim (Airalo seems to have what I want) and install and activate in the UK right before I fly to the US?
- I think I only need a data only plan as I will only use iMessage, WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype comms, is that correct, no phone number required?
- Once e-sim is purchased and installed, do I just select the e-sim in settings? Will that make my physical UK sim inactive (which is what I want) until I reselect it when I return to the UK?

Am I missing anything else?

Thank you for any help you can give.