eSIM thread
May 18, 2025 | 1:40 am
#1141
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 56
I’ve had a look at Telstra, thanks for the info. Would you mind elaborating about which plan version you chose please and also why are so many posts mentioning the ID verification requirements as though it’s a barrier, is everyone a terrorist 😂?
May 18, 2025 | 2:22 am
#1142
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+, BAC Bronze (until 2027)
Posts: 4,134
Newbie who’s never had an eSIM here 😬
This is a loooong thread, so I confess that for ease and relevancy I’ve only read from the start of this year (2025). I’m based in both UK and Italy and it’s very hard to drill down through the mass of US based chat about things I can’t have! Also, I’m undoubtedly a geek but not about mobile telephony. Really, I just want to be able to do basic Internetting, (no movie streaming or heavy use) and maybe call an Uber or a restaurant, I’m not about to test pings and latency and stuff.
Naturally, I have questions…
I’m off to Australia for about 6 weeks, with one layover, one stopover in Doha each way. I use an iPhone 15ProMax (and have other older models available if needed). I looked at the bigger providers & see that Saily, for example, provide a global eSIM which covers both countries and has long validity but is cheaper than getting one for each location. Why would anyone buy a dedicated country plan? What am I missing?
This is a loooong thread, so I confess that for ease and relevancy I’ve only read from the start of this year (2025). I’m based in both UK and Italy and it’s very hard to drill down through the mass of US based chat about things I can’t have! Also, I’m undoubtedly a geek but not about mobile telephony. Really, I just want to be able to do basic Internetting, (no movie streaming or heavy use) and maybe call an Uber or a restaurant, I’m not about to test pings and latency and stuff.
Naturally, I have questions…
I’m off to Australia for about 6 weeks, with one layover, one stopover in Doha each way. I use an iPhone 15ProMax (and have other older models available if needed). I looked at the bigger providers & see that Saily, for example, provide a global eSIM which covers both countries and has long validity but is cheaper than getting one for each location. Why would anyone buy a dedicated country plan? What am I missing?
May 18, 2025 | 6:20 am
#1143
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,735
Around peak season there will be sales and maybe extra data. You can check the Telstra website and also the website of supermarket chains Woolworths and Coles for the weekly ads which will have sales of SIM card kits for an idea of what is on sale.
Typically they have kits which nominally cost 30-40 AUD for 50-100 GB and every week these kits are marked down to 10-20 AUD. So Telstra will have similar sales though not as big discounts as Optus and the MVNOs.
The key is, if your device only takes eSIMs, you have to install the carrier’s apps to order and install eSIMs without going into the stores. This past January, I could install the Telstra and Optus apps but not Vodafone from the US App Store for my iPad.
if your device can take physical SIM cards, it’s much easier and you have more choices, like Vodafone and Boost SIM card kits which are usually better deals than Telstra.
May 18, 2025 | 10:32 am
#1144
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 56
May 18, 2025 | 11:52 am
#1145
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,961
eSIM providers like Saily are good for those short connections where you would like connectivity but where getting a local SIM might be inconvenient or difficult. In your case, I'd do a global eSIM in transit and then get a local prepaid SIM or eSIM once in Australia.
May 18, 2025 | 3:04 pm
#1146
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,529
Not all of the carriers require this. eg, Amaysim will sell you an eSIM via their website and will currently sell you 50GB/28days for $10, or 60GB/28 days for $12 (although these deals come and go as you say). You can activate the account and the eSIM via their website, however as has been said previously there are government regulations that will require you to enter ID details, and if you're a foreigner that'll need to be a foreign passport that has been used to pass through immigration (ie, you can't activate until you're already it the country - although I'm pretty sure you can buy the eSIM, you just need it to activate it)
May 18, 2025 | 3:25 pm
#1147
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,735
Not all of the carriers require this. eg, Amaysim will sell you an eSIM via their website and will currently sell you 50GB/28days for $10, or 60GB/28 days for $12 (although these deals come and go as you say). You can activate the account and the eSIM via their website, however as has been said previously there are government regulations that will require you to enter ID details, and if you're a foreigner that'll need to be a foreign passport that has been used to pass through immigration (ie, you can't activate until you're already it the country - although I'm pretty sure you can buy the eSIM, you just need it to activate it)
Maybe they're more willing to accommodate visitors than the main carriers.
We can only hope that more carriers offer "direct" sales of prepaid eSIMs, basically let you order on a website and they email you a QR code.
Mainline carriers seem more conservative and if they offer eSIM at all, it may be mainly for postpaid customers, at least at the start.
The mainline carriers in many countries have an infrastructure of stores and sometimes, the store employees seem uninterested in selling prepaid data, would rather sign you to a postpaid contract.
Plus some carriers seem to require you to activate a physical SIM and then they will convert it to an eSIM for you. However, many store employees seem disinterested in doing these conversions, which take time, doesn't net then a new sale.
May 18, 2025 | 9:09 pm
#1148
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,366
May 19, 2025 | 7:55 am
#1149
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,735
True but many of these carriers really want you to install their apps. If Telstra or Optus in Australia sent you QR codes without installing their apps, I’d have gone that route.
May 19, 2025 | 8:52 am
#1150
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,698
They may cost slightly more per GB, but you only pay what you use, you install esim and can test locally beforehand, and works as a backup (in your home country) or backup if you land in Australia and have issues with the local esim (or if the Sims are different networks, another backup if one network has no connectivity) . Should work for stopover in other (covered) countries
And you can keep the PAYG sim forever*
(*some say forever without expiry, and that means until they change their conditions or goes bankrupt)
PAYG:
Qatar: Roamlesss is $4/GB, unisim is $3/, esim.sm is $2.7/, ROAM is $2.6/.
Aus: Roamlesss $2.45/, unisim $2.2-3.5/, esimsm $2.31/, roam is $2.45/
Cheapest 1GB Qatar 1days is $1 or 1GB 7 days $2. are you planning to use more than 300MB (then 1GB is worth it), otherwise payg
Last edited by paperwastage; May 19, 2025 at 9:38 am
May 19, 2025 | 8:54 am
#1151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus. Eurobonus Millionaire
Posts: 38,683
re: multiple c
untries for an eSIM, check out solutions that let you pick multiple countries like Firsty. That one allows multiple countries and you pay by the day.
untries for an eSIM, check out solutions that let you pick multiple countries like Firsty. That one allows multiple countries and you pay by the day.
May 20, 2025 | 9:29 am
#1152
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Calgary, AB
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 446
Hi, I'm heading on a business trip to London, UK. I'll remain on my normal SIM because of work but my wife coming along needs a local esim -- any recommendations? I've been looking at Saily or Airalo. Saily looks promising but doesn't offer a local number or minutes compared to Airalo.
Need something relatively simple to activate and use for texting (I assume just for SMS but if she uses imessage, it'll be standard data), GPS/Apple maps, etc. for the two weeks.
TIA
Need something relatively simple to activate and use for texting (I assume just for SMS but if she uses imessage, it'll be standard data), GPS/Apple maps, etc. for the two weeks.
TIA
May 20, 2025 | 10:14 am
#1154
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 56
Hi, I'm heading on a business trip to London, UK. I'll remain on my normal SIM because of work but my wife coming along needs a local esim -- any recommendations? I've been looking at Saily or Airalo. Saily looks promising but doesn't offer a local number or minutes compared to Airalo.
Need something relatively simple to activate and use for texting (I assume just for SMS but if she uses imessage, it'll be standard data), GPS/Apple maps, etc. for the two weeks.
TIA
Need something relatively simple to activate and use for texting (I assume just for SMS but if she uses imessage, it'll be standard data), GPS/Apple maps, etc. for the two weeks.
TIA
I use Lebara on a monthly PAYG SIM only deal. You can get one for a fiver and there’s no credit check. I can’t say how the process might hinder a foreign applicant & they don’t have shops but it’s maybe worth looking at.
The big four (Vodafone, EE, Three and O2) will fleece you shamelessly but there are some good budget carriers working off the main networks such as GiffGaff & Tesco.
Last edited by Saltrams; May 28, 2025 at 9:07 am
May 20, 2025 | 10:36 am
#1155
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
you will be surprised at how little data you use if you only text and use it for navigation (complement with wifi in the lodgings) i often use less than a GB on a 2 weeks trip, so these could often turn out better than most deals