eSIM thread
May 27, 2025 | 2:27 pm
#1171
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 5,022
Thanks for the update, that's too bad.
I was able to upload my passport with Singtel in Singapore but I guess Italian carriers aren't ready to do that yet.
They said their eSIMs don't work or eSIMs in general don't work?
I've used WindTre last year but it was a physical SIM. It worked well and it was only 20.
I was able to upload my passport with Singtel in Singapore but I guess Italian carriers aren't ready to do that yet.
They said their eSIMs don't work or eSIMs in general don't work?
I've used WindTre last year but it was a physical SIM. It worked well and it was only 20.
May 27, 2025 | 6:22 pm
#1172
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,093
I had a good experience in Spain using an Orange sim from https://www.esimholidays.com/en/spain. 10EUR for 65GB and 500 minutes of local calls. I did have to upload a pic of my passport to orange.
May 27, 2025 | 6:28 pm
#1173
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,959
Remote KYC
I had a good experience in Spain using an Orange sim from https://www.esimholidays.com/en/spain. 10EUR for 65GB and 500 minutes of local calls. I did have to upload a pic of my passport to orange.
This allows purchase directly from the carrier or an agent of the carrier, before leaving home, at lower prices than you would find with the data brokers (e.g., Airalo). This frequently includes incoming and outgoing calls on the SIM which are almost never allowed on the data only eSIMS that account for most of the cross-border sales.
May 30, 2025 | 1:48 pm
#1174
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Plat LTP
Posts: 1,990
That is a lot more data than she will likely use in 2 weeks. I have used Airalo and Ubigi in the past in the UK. Earlier this month I used Jetpac for a two week to Greece, with a layover in Ireland. A European plan, 5GB for 30 days, cost $7. Everything worked well, I was very happy with it. I will use them again if the price is competitive, which it was for this trip. I used less than 3GB for 2 weeks, which is normal for me.
May 31, 2025 | 2:07 am
#1175
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,735
This is a very good trend. Carriers in countries with KYC requirements (most countries in the world, actually) are beginning to be able to remotely verify what they need to be KYC compliant.
This allows purchase directly from the carrier or an agent of the carrier, before leaving home, at lower prices than you would find with the data brokers (e.g., Airalo). This frequently includes incoming and outgoing calls on the SIM which are almost never allowed on the data only eSIMS that account for most of the cross-border sales.
This allows purchase directly from the carrier or an agent of the carrier, before leaving home, at lower prices than you would find with the data brokers (e.g., Airalo). This frequently includes incoming and outgoing calls on the SIM which are almost never allowed on the data only eSIMS that account for most of the cross-border sales.
You just order and they send you the QR code. I ordered it after I arrived in Italy, ordered it on a long train ride, using my iPhone which has T-Mobile so I get 5 GB of high speed international data.
Then I scanned the code with my iPad Pro and now I have it.
The charge goes to some company in Madrid. Orange, which is French, offers it directly while esimholidays.com seems to be a reseller. When you do speed tests, it routs through France, so the pings are higher than a local network would be. But the speeds are great and it roams here in Italy on TIM, the #1 carrier here.
May 31, 2025 | 2:08 am
#1176
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 79
Does anyone know if the 3HK global roaming sim will work in Alaska? I know they roam on AT&T in the lower 48, but does anyone know if it'll work on AT&T in AK?
Thanks!
Edit: It does work in AK even though it is not on the list of countries/regions
Thanks!
Edit: It does work in AK even though it is not on the list of countries/regions
Applicable to the below destinations:
Australia, Australia - Tasmania, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Mainland China, Guam, Guam - Saipan, Guam - Tinian Island, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, GEORGIA, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Italy - Sardinia, Italy - San Marino, Italy - Vatican City, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Portugal - Azores, Portugal - Maderia, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Sweden - Gotland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkey, Turkey - North Cyprus, UAE, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo RDC, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Canada, Mexico, USA, USA - Hawaii, USA - Puerto Rico, USA - USA Virgin Island, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Honduras, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Sudan, Tunisia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay
Australia, Australia - Tasmania, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Mainland China, Guam, Guam - Saipan, Guam - Tinian Island, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, GEORGIA, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Italy - Sardinia, Italy - San Marino, Italy - Vatican City, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Portugal - Azores, Portugal - Maderia, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Sweden - Gotland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkey, Turkey - North Cyprus, UAE, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo RDC, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Canada, Mexico, USA, USA - Hawaii, USA - Puerto Rico, USA - USA Virgin Island, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Honduras, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Sudan, Tunisia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay
Last edited by g2525; Jun 28, 2025 at 8:35 pm
May 31, 2025 | 6:40 am
#1177
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,961
I don't see why it wouldn't work. It's not like T-Mobile which roams on GCI. AT&T has their own towers in Alaska.
Jun 2, 2025 | 12:53 pm
#1178
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,959
I also have the Orange Europe eSIM but one with more data. It doesn't require ID at all.
You just order and they send you the QR code. I ordered it after I arrived in Italy, ordered it on a long train ride, using my iPhone which has T-Mobile so I get 5 GB of high speed international data.
Then I scanned the code with my iPad Pro and now I have it.
The charge goes to some company in Madrid. Orange, which is French, offers it directly while esimholidays.com seems to be a reseller. When you do speed tests, it routs through France, so the pings are higher than a local network would be. But the speeds are great and it roams here in Italy on TIM, the #1 carrier here.
You just order and they send you the QR code. I ordered it after I arrived in Italy, ordered it on a long train ride, using my iPhone which has T-Mobile so I get 5 GB of high speed international data.
Then I scanned the code with my iPad Pro and now I have it.
The charge goes to some company in Madrid. Orange, which is French, offers it directly while esimholidays.com seems to be a reseller. When you do speed tests, it routs through France, so the pings are higher than a local network would be. But the speeds are great and it roams here in Italy on TIM, the #1 carrier here.
Jun 2, 2025 | 1:09 pm
#1179
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,735
Even data SIMs have phone numbers.
But this one has calls and SMS as well as 100 GB of data.
https://www.esimholidays.com/en/europe
However, I use it on my iPad Pro so I don't use it for calls.
Jun 27, 2025 | 12:50 pm
#1180
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,959
Even data SIMs have phone numbers.
But this one has calls and SMS as well as 100 GB of data.
https://www.esimholidays.com/en/europe
However, I use it on my iPad Pro so I don't use it for calls.
But this one has calls and SMS as well as 100 GB of data.
https://www.esimholidays.com/en/europe
However, I use it on my iPad Pro so I don't use it for calls.
Pursuant to Spanish law due to the provision of a phone number, I had to do an ID verification. I had to upload a copy of my passport, and also allow their app to take a face photo. The eSIM worked as advertised, and did not require activation in Spain or any use in Spain.
https://www.esimholidays.com/en/spain
Last edited by BigFlyer; Jun 27, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Jul 10, 2025 | 3:59 pm
#1181
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver CO
Programs: HHonors Gold, National Emerald Club, no airline affinity status
Posts: 3,805
I am late the e-sim discussion. I have a brand new Samsung 25 Ultra and I am traveling to the UAE in Oct. Do I wait until I get there and visit a local phone store to buy the sim? Can I buy it and install it on my phone prior to my trip? Do I toggle between the sims when I leave the US and arrive in the UAE (and vice versa)?
Jul 10, 2025 | 4:09 pm
#1182
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 2,226
I am late the e-sim discussion. I have a brand new Samsung 25 Ultra and I am traveling to the UAE in Oct. Do I wait until I get there and visit a local phone store to buy the sim? Can I buy it and install it on my phone prior to my trip? Do I toggle between the sims when I leave the US and arrive in the UAE (and vice versa)?
Verify your new phone is unlocked which is a requirement to add an eSIM for the trip. Verify your account has WiFi calling enabled for the plan by connecting to WiFi and enabling airplane mode. Then make a call and send a text as a test. I have never purchased a UAE eSIM.
Jul 10, 2025 | 6:18 pm
#1183
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 346
HawaiiTrvlr, are you looking for a Sim or an eSIM? They are different. A Sim is a physical card you might buy at a local phone store or airport and install in your phone. An eSIM is basically a service you buy that works with the hardware already in your phone. Nothing to physically install, you just load the necessary software into your phone. The advantage is you don’t have to mess with the SIM card in your phone, or to store it somewhere while you use the purchased SIM card. eSIM is really easy. You buy it from an eSIM provider like Airalo, Ubigi or others before your trip. You install it in your phone typically by scanning a barcode. It will activate itself when it finds cell phone service on arrival. It’s cheap, easy and reliable. Sorry if I am repeating what you already know but your question suggested that perhaps you didn’t.
Jul 11, 2025 | 5:01 pm
#1184
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver CO
Programs: HHonors Gold, National Emerald Club, no airline affinity status
Posts: 3,805
HawaiiTrvlr, are you looking for a Sim or an eSIM? They are different. A Sim is a physical card you might buy at a local phone store or airport and install in your phone. An eSIM is basically a service you buy that works with the hardware already in your phone. Nothing to physically install, you just load the necessary software into your phone. The advantage is you dont have to mess with the SIM card in your phone, or to store it somewhere while you use the purchased SIM card. eSIM is really easy. You buy it from an eSIM provider like Airalo, Ubigi or others before your trip. You install it in your phone typically by scanning a barcode. It will activate itself when it finds cell phone service on arrival. Its cheap, easy and reliable. Sorry if I am repeating what you already know but your question suggested that perhaps you didnt.
Jul 11, 2025 | 10:11 pm
#1185
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,767