You can install it any time (and probably should beforehand because it usually involves scanning a QR code, which is easier if you have another screen to display the code while you scan with your phone). Then turn off that line in your phone's settings until you arrive at your destination. Turn the line on and it should activate - usually. Read the docs that come with the eSim to understand your particular carrier's activation method. Also note that most eSIMs I've seen with a defined validity period (e.g., 10 GB for 7 days) will start the "7 days" as soon as your phone connects to a network, and if they happen to allow some kind of roaming in the US it means the timer will start if you connect in the US. That's why I say to turn the line off.

That definitely depends. I've always seen that the timer starts when one connects to a network that the eSIM in question works with, not just any network. For example, when I used Airalo in Indonesia, the instructions stated that the timer started as soon as it connected to the Indonesian network that was provisioned with that eSIM. That certainly wasn't going to be a network in the US or Japan or anywhere else I visited prior to Ind:pnesia on that trip.

My other question about Orange Travel is does anyone have any experience purchasing multiple lines through them on one account? I also want to get an eSIM for my wife's phone.

How do you ensure that the eSIM line does not connect to a network and start the clock immediately after scanning the QR code (unless the later comment about the eSIM needing to connect to its native network rather than any network is correct)? Thanks.

I looked at the Airalo web site about eSIM activation/expiration. The :Dnes I've purchased from them all indicated that activation took place when my phone initially registered on whatever network was supported by the eSIM -- in country. But it seems that that is not always the case and that it varies by provider/eSIM. I think the correct answer here is that it usually works that way but not always. Have a look at this from the Airalo help site:

I've always just been quick to go into the settings and turn it off immediately after installing, while it's still hunting for service. Or maybe I've gotten lucky and only bought eSIMs that activate when they connect to the specific country's network.

I just got back from a 3.5 week trip with this sim. Seems like it's a vodafone UK sim. esim.net customer service was fine, was not a fan of vodafone coverage. Seemed like it dropped down to 3G way too often compared to my work phone roaming on either O2 or EE, or one of my T-Mobile USA lines roaming on O2/EE as well. Reviews on trustpilot suggest this sim is limited to 25gb outside the UK. Customer service did not say there was any limit on it before ordering. I only used the sim outside the UK in AMS (where I activated it), and a little last night when I got home (roamed on AT&T 4G here).

You do get a UK mobile number.

I wish Three supported eSim over there for prepaid.

I have over a dozen stored, non-active Airalo purchased eSIMs in my Airalo account. They don’t go active until I install the eSIM and it connects to a network operator of relevance to the Airalo’s contracted service provider for the eSIM’s network connection and back end billing.

IIRC 3UK released eSIM for prepaid for about two weeks, then stopped because of all the technical problems it caused, and has been trying to rectify that ever since.

on their website it probably still says it won't be long before esim support is rolled out for all users, but I for one will not be holding my breath.

I'd love to know what the hold up is.

If it’s not concern about financial fraud, nor concern about service degradation for typically more profitable post-paid customers, nor about direct or indirect higher costs from being too attractive to a more mercenary customer segment/behavior, the remaining concern would be regulatory/legal compliance concerns. Keep in mind that telcos are very heavily regulated in the UK, and this too is in a country where they even prohibit the earning of loyalty program points/rebates from the purchase of baby formula and are ever more increasingly paranoid about bad actors making “anonymous” use of the mobile phone network services.

Their FAQ says:

"You can install it before traveling or upon arrival. Your device must have an internet connection to install your eSIM. The activation will be done automatically once the SIM card will be under a European network coverage."

You should be able to install it just fine in the US or somewhere else outside Europe. If you install it before leaving I'd turn that line off until you get to your destination. Since my trip was exactly 14 days I decided to play it safe and ended up installing the eSIM once I got to my hotel in London. Installing the eSIM was super easy once on the hotel wifi. I was lucky that I had stayed at the same hotel before and knew how to get there so I didn't need to worry about having a data connection to get to the hotel. If I absolutely needed it I could have activated it using LHR's wifi or even on the Elizabeth line train but I just wanted to get to my hotel so I could watch the Starship test flight then pass out for awhile.

I was all set to go with Flexiroam then I found out 3HK is cheaper.

Researching 3HK, people say all the data is routed back to HK and the phone gets an HK IP address. While I am not a China-phobe like a lot of the world is nowadays, I also don't want to trigger any work security alerts if I connect through it to work stuff.

Is this "route back to home country" and "get home country's IP address" pretty common with data eSIMs?

Does anyone know Flexiroam will work on this front? It seems to be an Australian / Singapore company.

Thanks.

It's pretty normal that the data is routed through the country where the SIM is from. If you use roaming with your regular SIM from your home country, the exit point of your internet traffic is in your carriers country and you will also surf with an IP address from there. Or in other words, when I use my Swisscom (from Switzerland) SIM abroad, all traffic still goes through Switzerland.

The situation gets more complicated/intransparent with eSIMS issued by Airalo and such. They use all kinds of providers and third party roaming partners, depending on country. When I used Airalo in Tanzania last month, all data was routed through the US. Last year it was routed through Israel. Whoever gives them the best deal I guess.

Interesting, didn't realize they had multiple points of presence (though of course it makes sense). In the past when I've used Airalo the connection was routed through Ireland.