Originally Posted by
Nayef
Same here my sim is from 2019 though I wonder if I visit the UK and ask for it to be converted to an eSIM if it would cost me my legacy/grandfathered service. I don’t top it up for more than a year but when I do it’s back to normal with the number and all. I think in other circumstances the number as a whole would probably disconnect from lack of activity.
I don't know what the inactivity period is on it, but I purchased mine in early 2020 from a vending machine at LHR. I half expected it to disconnect, but I was able to do a normal top up via a voucher from WHSmith when I first came back in September 2021. I've been averaging at least one trip per year to the UK, so I'll let this stay active as long as I can. I don't know if there is an option to convert this to an eSIM, but, like you, I don't want to jeopardize the grandfathered plan. In that sense, a physical SIM is more durable.
Outside of travel eSIMs from Airalo, the only other eSIMs that I have are ones for T-Mobile (US) and Taiwan Mobile. I don't mind if I lose access to an Airalo eSIM, and, since the T-Mobile and Taiwan Mobile eSIMs are tied to services registered to me, there is a recovery process if something happens to the eSIM.