Your travel phone checklist: before flying and after landing

Use our compatibility checker with the exact model and sales region, then confirm carrier unlock status. On iPhone, look under Settings > General > About for No SIM restrictions beside the carrier-lock entry; on Android, ask the original carrier if the status isn’t clear.

Enter the countries, dates, usual activities and any sharing into Plan my trip. Compare the estimate with the selected offers’ data, usable days, start window and sharing terms, including an overnight stopover if you need mobile data there.

Save the order email, first accommodation address, transfer meeting point and booking references. Download supported offline maps and entertainment while you have your usual connection, then open a saved item with Wi-Fi and mobile data off to check it really is available.

If you need the Australian number for bank codes or ordinary calls, confirm the carrier’s overseas service and charges before leaving. Another data line doesn’t transfer the number or make its calls, voicemail and Wi-Fi Calling free.

1. Join steady, trusted Wi-Fi, finish any sign-in page and load a normal webpage. If airport Wi-Fi won’t work, use the hotel or another suitable connection.
2. Open the saved setup email and use our device installation guide. Leave the QR, quick-install link and manual activation details untouched until this stage.
3. Select the travel eSIM for mobile data, keeping automatic data switching off and home-line data roaming off unless deliberately using the home carrier’s service.
4. Follow that order’s roaming instructions and any APN settings for the travel line. The APN is the mobile-internet setting; use the exact value in your instructions, because different plans can need different settings.
5. Briefly turn Wi-Fi off and open a simple webpage. If it loads, you’ve tested mobile data rather than the airport connection.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi and use the no-service checks, keeping the installed profile in place. Send the Travel Desk the order number, exact model, current country and error as text, including whether the profile appears in Settings.

Keep a cropped, redacted screenshot ready only if support requests one, hiding QR and activation details, the full setup email and full device identifiers. Don’t delete the profile, keep rescanning or buy another plan while the first order is being checked.