Providing phone number for travel form
Jun 1, 2021, 3:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
Providing phone number for travel form
Hello All,
I am traveling from LAX to Scotland in a couple of weeks.
I do not have a local phone number. Usually I provide my mobile number. However with restrictions the way they are, not sure what my next steps are. I only have an international number. I usually use wi-fi when I go home but now we don't have wi-fi (longer story) and no home phone. Just mobile. International rates are extortionate so I don't turn my phone on - airplane mode + wifi.
How can I provide a number for them to call should they need to check on me? Do I have to purchase a UK mobile or - should I even add that whole explanation on the travel form?
Thanks
I am traveling from LAX to Scotland in a couple of weeks.
I do not have a local phone number. Usually I provide my mobile number. However with restrictions the way they are, not sure what my next steps are. I only have an international number. I usually use wi-fi when I go home but now we don't have wi-fi (longer story) and no home phone. Just mobile. International rates are extortionate so I don't turn my phone on - airplane mode + wifi.
How can I provide a number for them to call should they need to check on me? Do I have to purchase a UK mobile or - should I even add that whole explanation on the travel form?
Thanks
Jun 1, 2021, 3:32 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 376
I used a (nominally usa) google voice number and ticked the box that says cannot receive calls, but they called anyway. Several times. Until I answered.
I'm pretty sure google voice, as an app, or via the desktop website, can run off wifi to answer calls. I had $0 credit loaded on it.
I'm pretty sure google voice, as an app, or via the desktop website, can run off wifi to answer calls. I had $0 credit loaded on it.
Jun 1, 2021, 4:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,963
Hello All,
I am traveling from LAX to Scotland in a couple of weeks.
I do not have a local phone number. Usually I provide my mobile number. However with restrictions the way they are, not sure what my next steps are. I only have an international number. I usually use wi-fi when I go home but now we don't have wi-fi (longer story) and no home phone. Just mobile. International rates are extortionate so I don't turn my phone on - airplane mode + wifi.
How can I provide a number for them to call should they need to check on me? Do I have to purchase a UK mobile or - should I even add that whole explanation on the travel form?
Thanks
I am traveling from LAX to Scotland in a couple of weeks.
I do not have a local phone number. Usually I provide my mobile number. However with restrictions the way they are, not sure what my next steps are. I only have an international number. I usually use wi-fi when I go home but now we don't have wi-fi (longer story) and no home phone. Just mobile. International rates are extortionate so I don't turn my phone on - airplane mode + wifi.
How can I provide a number for them to call should they need to check on me? Do I have to purchase a UK mobile or - should I even add that whole explanation on the travel form?
Thanks
It’s normally data which is the expensive bit, but you can presumably just turn data roaming off.
Jun 1, 2021, 4:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
Several options off the top of my head:
1) Get a temporary international plan add-on (or whatever the specific term is for you carrier.) Not usually that expensive.
2) See what the "pay as you go" rates are for international calls. The most expensive are usually around $2 / min. YMMV.
3) Investigate getting a UK SIM. There used to be a company who would have your SIM ready for you to pick up at LHR (or other major point of entry) and you get the number when you "book" it. With Covid etc, not sure if they're still around.
4) Probably others I haven't thought of yet.
Best option is to compare #1 and #2. assuming it will be a single relatively quick call.
rb211.
1) Get a temporary international plan add-on (or whatever the specific term is for you carrier.) Not usually that expensive.
2) See what the "pay as you go" rates are for international calls. The most expensive are usually around $2 / min. YMMV.
3) Investigate getting a UK SIM. There used to be a company who would have your SIM ready for you to pick up at LHR (or other major point of entry) and you get the number when you "book" it. With Covid etc, not sure if they're still around.
4) Probably others I haven't thought of yet.
Best option is to compare #1 and #2. assuming it will be a single relatively quick call.
rb211.
Jun 1, 2021, 5:15 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,281
Hello All,
I am traveling from LAX to Scotland in a couple of weeks.
I do not have a local phone number. Usually I provide my mobile number. However with restrictions the way they are, not sure what my next steps are. I only have an international number. I usually use wi-fi when I go home but now we don't have wi-fi (longer story) and no home phone. Just mobile. International rates are extortionate so I don't turn my phone on - airplane mode + wifi.
How can I provide a number for them to call should they need to check on me? Do I have to purchase a UK mobile or - should I even add that whole explanation on the travel form?
Thanks
I am traveling from LAX to Scotland in a couple of weeks.
I do not have a local phone number. Usually I provide my mobile number. However with restrictions the way they are, not sure what my next steps are. I only have an international number. I usually use wi-fi when I go home but now we don't have wi-fi (longer story) and no home phone. Just mobile. International rates are extortionate so I don't turn my phone on - airplane mode + wifi.
How can I provide a number for them to call should they need to check on me? Do I have to purchase a UK mobile or - should I even add that whole explanation on the travel form?
Thanks
Could it prompt a visit to your address - I don't know, perhaps it does, but it'll save you the roaming fees.
Jun 1, 2021, 5:29 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
I can confirm from experience as a US-based traveler that my Google Voice number works well in Scotland. I still have a SIM that I purchased from http://giffgaff.com, but there are also SIMs available for UK use through Amazon. You can purchase a pay-as-you-go plan through these companies that allows you to get various amounts of data and minutes that are good for 30 days. Some of those plans are as cheap as £5. For your limited purpose, Google Voice may be all you need, but it is nice to be able to make a local (or even an international) call when wifi isn't available.
Jun 2, 2021, 2:06 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Malaga, Spain
Posts: 1,077
Wi-Fi is everywhere in towns and tourist spots in Scotland and often free. Turn off international roaming and communicate by WhatsApp using your home number
Jun 2, 2021, 4:15 am
#11
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 5
How extortionate is extortionate? I’ve just checked my tariff, and for me, if I was to travel from Scotland to the USA, the cost of receiving a call would be £0.89/minute. For the sake of a quick call I could live with that!
It’s normally data which is the expensive bit, but you can presumably just turn data roaming off.
It’s normally data which is the expensive bit, but you can presumably just turn data roaming off.
Jun 2, 2021, 4:26 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Several options off the top of my head:
1) Get a temporary international plan add-on (or whatever the specific term is for you carrier.) Not usually that expensive.
2) See what the "pay as you go" rates are for international calls. The most expensive are usually around $2 / min. YMMV.
3) Investigate getting a UK SIM. There used to be a company who would have your SIM ready for you to pick up at LHR (or other major point of entry) and you get the number when you "book" it. With Covid etc, not sure if they're still around.
4) Probably others I haven't thought of yet.
Best option is to compare #1 and #2. assuming it will be a single relatively quick call.
rb211.
1) Get a temporary international plan add-on (or whatever the specific term is for you carrier.) Not usually that expensive.
2) See what the "pay as you go" rates are for international calls. The most expensive are usually around $2 / min. YMMV.
3) Investigate getting a UK SIM. There used to be a company who would have your SIM ready for you to pick up at LHR (or other major point of entry) and you get the number when you "book" it. With Covid etc, not sure if they're still around.
4) Probably others I haven't thought of yet.
Best option is to compare #1 and #2. assuming it will be a single relatively quick call.
rb211.
Jun 2, 2021, 4:54 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,281
How extortionate is extortionate? I’ve just checked my tariff, and for me, if I was to travel from Scotland to the USA, the cost of receiving a call would be £0.89/minute. For the sake of a quick call I could live with that!
It’s normally data which is the expensive bit, but you can presumably just turn data roaming off.
It’s normally data which is the expensive bit, but you can presumably just turn data roaming off.
Jun 2, 2021, 5:49 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,963
Jun 2, 2021, 5:51 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,152
If you have friends or family in Scotland, get them to pick up a pay-as-you-go sim for you, and put a few quid on to get you some data. They let you know the number when they register it + top it up, put that number on your form. They drop off the sim where you are self isolating, you put the sim in your phone when you arrive, then use that for calls plus later data when you're done isolating.
Otherwise, order a pay-as-you-go sim (eg giffgaff) to where you are self isolating. Put your US number on the initial form, but tick don't phone/sms. When you have activated the sim, update your Passenger Locator Form online with the new number.
Otherwise, order a pay-as-you-go sim (eg giffgaff) to where you are self isolating. Put your US number on the initial form, but tick don't phone/sms. When you have activated the sim, update your Passenger Locator Form online with the new number.