AT&T Community Forums

Travel with local esim

I’m going to Europe in about a week and due to the high cost of the AT&T international plan I decided to purchase a local eSIM that will cover calls and texting while I’m in Europe. During this time I plan to keep my AT&T eSIM turned off, except when I’m by Wi-Fi and I may use it in airplane mode in order to use Wi-Fi calling. I’m wondering if my Att eSIM turned off what response people will get if they call or text My regular number. Will those calls and messages be lost? Will I be able to receive voicemails? Or they queue up until I’m able to get onto the Wi-Fi And then will load my phone? Any information on how this works or suggestions for managing it appreciated.

Responses

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

formerlyknownas

ACE - Sage

•

118.4K Messages

2 months ago

If your AT&T SIM card is turned off, people will get the message that your phone is not in service at this time and cannot be reached. Voicemails will not download for visual voicemail You will have to check manually. Please know your voicemail PIN code before you leave the US.

Yes, you can check your voicemail when traveling internationally.

Press and hold 1 on your AT&T phone. At the voicemail greeting, enter your 10-digit wireless phone number, press the * (star) key, and then enter your voicemail password.

Text messages may be lost. iMessage should still come through. You might want to set up WhatsApp for messages.

As for using a non AT&T SIM card...

Has your phone been paid off and unlocked?

If your phone was purchased from AT&T and is still under installments, it has to be paid off and unlocked in order to accept an ESIM or physical SIM from any other service provider.

https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/

How do I view and pay off my AT&T Installment Plan in full?

Go toinstallment plan details. Sign in, if asked.
Select the device you want to view.
Choose your option:
- Make an installment plan payment to pay off your device.
- Upgrade device to pay it off and get a new one.
- Once submitted, payments are final and can't be reversed
- You can’t make extra payments on your installment balance, but you can pay off your full remaining balance at any time

⚠️ Please add international day pass to your line anyway. The number of people who have accidentally turned on their AT&T SIM while not in airplane mode and while not connected to Wi-Fi and have incurred hundreds of dollars in data fees in just a few moments while their phone connects and checks in on a foreign network are too many to number. At $2.05 per megabyte you'd be surprised how quickly your phone can add up to $100's in charges in just one day which would completely negate any savings by not using international day pass in the first place.

Honestly at $120 per bill cycle to use your phone as you would at home, it's a drop in the bucket compared to what you have paid for flight and accommodations in a foreign country.

0

Zimny

9 Messages

2 months ago

Thank you. Yes, my phone is unlocked. Yes, I plan to add the day pass in case I screw up and use my AT&T service unintentionally, or if I need it when the other eSIM expires. For $60 for 28 days it provides 50GB of 5G data, unlimited call and texts within Europe, as well an allowance for minutes and texts to the US. If I use the AT&T pass for those 28 days, since the dates encompass half of two billing cycles, I would pay the maximum -10 days + taxes per cycle, at least $100 (or $120?) so at least $200, and to me $140 is not a drop in the bucket. Admittedly, the pass is more convenient.

Follow up question: you say that if I turn off my primary eSIM people will get the out of service message, but then you discuss voicemails, but how would people be able to leave voicemails?

0