Aug 17, 2023, 7:44 am
Last edit by: serpens
Here are instructions for what phone settings to use when a travel SIM has been activated. The initial wiki is for an iPhone (in particular, an iPhone SE 2020 with iOS 16.6), but perhaps others will expand the wiki to clarify the steps for other phones or other operating system versions.
* Before arriving in the travel area, turn off roaming on the home SIM (to avoid any roaming charge).
- At Settings > Cellular, under SIMs, choose the home SIM and turn off Data Roaming.
If there is a Network Selection option (which is apparently not available with Consumer Cellular), choose a network on which the phone cannot roam, for example, 313-100.
* After arriving in the travel area, use the following settings.
- At Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data, choose the travel SIM and turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching.
- At Settings > Cellular > Default Voice Line, choose the home SIM.
- At Settings > Cellular, under SIMs, ensure both home and travel are On.
- At Settings > Cellular > [home SIM], ensure Wi-Fi calling is On and Data Roaming is Off.
- At Settings > Cellular > [travel SIM], ensure Data Roaming is On and (optionally) Low Data Mode is On.
Corrections are welcome, as are elaborations of what these settings mean and do.
* Before arriving in the travel area, turn off roaming on the home SIM (to avoid any roaming charge).
- At Settings > Cellular, under SIMs, choose the home SIM and turn off Data Roaming.
If there is a Network Selection option (which is apparently not available with Consumer Cellular), choose a network on which the phone cannot roam, for example, 313-100.
* After arriving in the travel area, use the following settings.
- At Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data, choose the travel SIM and turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching.
- At Settings > Cellular > Default Voice Line, choose the home SIM.
- At Settings > Cellular, under SIMs, ensure both home and travel are On.
- At Settings > Cellular > [home SIM], ensure Wi-Fi calling is On and Data Roaming is Off.
- At Settings > Cellular > [travel SIM], ensure Data Roaming is On and (optionally) Low Data Mode is On.
Corrections are welcome, as are elaborations of what these settings mean and do.
SIM for multi-country Europe trip and options for calling home
Jul 27, 2019 | 2:55 pm
#76
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,328
I haven't left, so can't provide further experience.
Jul 27, 2019 | 2:57 pm
#77
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,064
Just a bit of a different experience for me...I put in my Three 12 GB SIM and instantaneous got a text that activation could take 30 minutes. About 30 seconds later, got another text indicating that the SIM was activated for data use only while in the USA. The company literature included with the SIM does encourage activation while still in the USA.
I haven't left, so can't provide further experience.
I haven't left, so can't provide further experience.
Last edited by Nayef; Jul 27, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Jul 27, 2019 | 10:09 pm
#78
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,142
Jul 27, 2019 | 10:12 pm
#79
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,142
The instructions say to go to a website and enter info first, before entering sim in phone. The next day i got an email saying activated and sim ready. Id suggest doing it the way the instructions on your sim read. Its only one day. Since above poster hasnt used sim abroad yet, we dont know its fate.
Jul 28, 2019 | 12:38 am
#80
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,328
The instructions say to go to a website and enter info first, before entering sim in phone. The next day i got an email saying activated and sim ready. Id suggest doing it the way the instructions on your sim read. Its only one day. Since above poster hasnt used sim abroad yet, we dont know its fate.
Jul 29, 2019 | 10:37 am
#82
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
Anyone have any experience with Orange Holiday Europe? going to France and need tethering...
Availabe on Amazon for $50, I think it's 40 euros in France.
Availabe on Amazon for $50, I think it's 40 euros in France.
Jul 29, 2019 | 12:06 pm
#83
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,460
Jul 29, 2019 | 12:22 pm
#84
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PDX
Posts: 908
Three UK has 12 Gb for 20 (30 days). Unless you require a French number, this plan is one of the cheapeast out there for 10+ Gb. Even their 36 Gb for 27.50 is still cheaper, but tethering will be limited to 19 Gb per month while roaming in EU. Plus, they finally started supporting LTE when roaming.
Jul 29, 2019 | 1:45 pm
#85
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,460
Three UK has 12 Gb for 20 (30 days). Unless you require a French number, this plan is one of the cheapeast out there for 10+ Gb. Even their 36 Gb for 27.50 is still cheaper, but tethering will be limited to 19 Gb per month while roaming in EU. Plus, they finally started supporting LTE when roaming.
chris
Jul 29, 2019 | 3:02 pm
#86
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Gold, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,765
I have no experience using this in the EU, but giffgaff is currently running a 30-day plan with 40 GB of data, with 20 GB available while roaming outside of the UK in the EU, for 20: https://www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-plans.
Aug 11, 2019 | 12:26 pm
#88
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Gold, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,765
I'm assuming you mean if you don't have a locally-issued credit or debit card. As far as I know, most cell providers allow reloads online for residents of the country where the SIM is purchased with a local credit or debit card. For non-residents of the UK, Giffgaff does. For non-Irish, Tesco Ireland does (I have one for my Irish trips) but Tesco UK does not for non-UK.
Aug 11, 2019 | 12:47 pm
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 20,233
I'm assuming you mean if you don't have a locally-issued credit or debit card. As far as I know, most cell providers allow reloads online for residents of the country where the SIM is purchased with a local credit or debit card. For non-residents of the UK, Giffgaff does. For non-Irish, Tesco Ireland does (I have one for my Irish trips) but Tesco UK does not for non-UK.
Aug 26, 2019 | 5:42 am
#90
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Citizen of the world
Programs: Aeroplan,Skymiles, HiltonHonors, SPG
Posts: 28,528
Just a bit of a different experience for me...I put in my Three 12 GB SIM and instantaneous got a text that activation could take 30 minutes. About 30 seconds later, got another text indicating that the SIM was activated for data use only while in the USA. The company literature included with the SIM does encourage activation while still in the USA.
I haven't left, so can't provide further experience.
I haven't left, so can't provide further experience.
Have you started using it in Europe? and your experience thus far .
BTW: If I am in Italy or France , will I have to dial the country code ( like International call) to reach a local number in Italy or France since this is UK card ?
Thank you