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iPhone 13 Pro Verizon user + eSim in another country

E

etaleb

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 7, 2012
649
33
Maine
Guys - lots of posts on a verizon community stating that travelpass or cellular data was used even though the phone had cellular data turned off. Why does this occur? Verizon is recommending putting phone in airplane mode which isn't feasible since I'll be using an eSim in this asian country I am traveling to

community.verizon.com

Travel Pass

So I went to Aruba for a week and I have Travel Pass on my iphone XR. While there I was connected to the resort Wi-Fi constantly and even had "Cell Data" turned off on my phone for most of the trip and yet still was charged the $10 per day fee every day I was there but one. I received no calls...
community.verizon.com community.verizon.com
MatthreR, we know it's important to understand how TravelPass sessions are activated. Turning off Cellular Data can still allow the device to connect to towers internationally, triggering a TravelPass session. We inform customers that when they do not want to trigger a session, to enable Airplane Mode as this will block all cellular connection to towers. Being in Airplane Mode still allows you to access Wi-Fi, so you can stay connected to the internet.

Thanks
 
Cellular data off means apps can't use data. But the initial handshake when your device announces its radio capabilities to the network will use data.

Just remove the SIM card.
 
You can use the eSIM for travel, and turn off the Verizon sim in Settings > Cellular > SIMs. But you do have to keep airplane mode off or else you won't connect to any cellular networks.
 
I'm in Settings Cellular and it shows the Verizon SIM and when I click on it, there is no place to turn it off
 
You know this stuff quite well ;)

Also will I lose ability to receive iMessages on my cell number that I disabled or any way to keep that?

Thanks
 
It's been year since I tried using two SIMs, so I don't remember exactly. It didn't behave quite the way I wanted. I, like you, was trying to avoid international charges but keep all of the data working. As I recall, there was no way to keep data on while eliminating the ability to accidentally make or receive phone calls, triggering international charges. I'm with T-Mobile, and the data is free.
 
chabig said:
It's been year since I tried using two SIMs, so I don't remember exactly. It didn't behave quite the way I wanted. I, like you, was trying to avoid international charges but keep all of the data working. As I recall, there was no way to keep data on while eliminating the ability to accidentally make or receive phone calls, triggering international charges. I'm with T-Mobile, and the data is free.
Click to expand...
The trick is to make the USA line search for a carrier that it doesn’t have a roaming agreement with. This will place the line to show no signal strength but allow the local data voice line to give that line with no signal cellular data which will work the same as Wi-Fi calling for the USA line. Downside, extra battery drain.
 
I don’t have Verizon so I’m speculating but couldn’t you call them and remove the TravelPass addon from your account? Then just buy an Airalo or Nomad Esim for the trip.

If you remove the physical Verizon sim you will not be able to receive iMessages sent to your Verizon number. Most travel Esims are data only. If you need to make local calls then you have to go to that country and buy a local carrier prepaid plan that can be activated as an esim. Then you’ll have a local number and can make calls in that country. Your friends back home will have to be informed to call you over FaceTime, WhatsApp calling, <insert other data calling apps>
 
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Old thread but I’m about to go to London for a week and bought an eSIM to avoid TravelPass charges as well, since my bank only has like 2-3 days currently.

I found this site which explains really clearly as to how to make sure your Primary (aka Verizon) is off: https://alosim.com/how-to-avoid-data-roaming-charges-iphone/

In short, make sure your primary sim is OFF and “Allow cellular data-switch” is also OFF, and make sure the eSIM is ON and data roaming for that eSIM is on as well.

As another step I’m planning to make sure WiFi calling is off since I tested it at home and even with cellular off, it was still showing “Verizon WiFi Calling” which I think would also trigger TravelPass (I don’t have the eSIM activated yet though, as it’s still a few weeks out before I leave).
 
tekchic said:
Old thread but I’m about to go to London for a week and bought an eSIM to avoid TravelPass charges as well, since my bank only has like 2-3 days currently.

I found this site which explains really clearly as to how to make sure your Primary (aka Verizon) is off: https://alosim.com/how-to-avoid-data-roaming-charges-iphone/

In short, make sure your primary sim is OFF and “Allow cellular data-switch” is also OFF, and make sure the eSIM is ON and data roaming for that eSIM is on as well.

As another step I’m planning to make sure WiFi calling is off since I tested it at home and even with cellular off, it was still showing “Verizon WiFi Calling” which I think would also trigger TravelPass (I don’t have the eSIM activated yet though, as it’s still a few weeks out before I leave).
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I made sure Wi-Fi calling on my USA line was ON and active before I went to the UK.
 
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As above, Verizon recommends airplane mode. Silly since your second sim (like airalo) won’t function in airplane mode.

I turned off Verizon sim completely but.. I did get a the attached popup, which is good imho
 

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Other option is just get a pocket WiFi with international data plan. Keep your phone in airplane mode and you’re good. You can share it with your family as a hot spot. I do it all the time when I travel to Europe and Asia with family. Data plans are relatively cheap
 
KKSigs said:
Other option is just get a pocket WiFi with international data plan. Keep your phone in airplane mode and you’re good. You can share it with your family as a hot spot. I do it all the time when I travel to Europe and Asia with family. Data plans are relatively cheap
Click to expand...

Kinda defeats the point of having dual SIM. Also, if you're not together all the time, either only one person has access to internet or you'd need to get multiple pocket wifis.

Besides, I've had better luck using the iPhone and iPad as hotspot than dedicated pocket wifi.

For what it's worth, I tested dual SIM with AT&T + Airalo eSIM while still in the US.

Cellular Data: Airalo
Allow Cellular Data Switching: Off

My AT&T data usage was 0 during the week it was on Airalo data.
 
iGeneo said:
As above, Verizon recommends airplane mode. Silly since your second sim (like airalo) won’t function in airplane mode.

I turned off Verizon sim completely but.. I did get a the attached popup, which is good imho
Click to expand...
Well, this didn’t work after all. I turned it back on when I was was on Wi-Fi and a flood of messages came in. Unfortunately, it looks like I’m gonna have to switch away from Verizon and back to T-Mobile. I travel to the UK far too often to have to deal with this.
 
iGeneo said:
Well, this didn’t work after all. I turned it back on when I was was on Wi-Fi and a flood of messages came in. Unfortunately, it looks like I’m gonna have to switch away from Verizon and back to T-Mobile. I travel to the UK far too often to have to deal with this.
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I'm not sure what plan you currently have with Verizon but their Unlimited Ultimate includes 10GB international roaming.
 
This is what I do. Before departure turn on WiFi calling for the Verizon line. Turn off data roaming. And important, after landing at destination go into settings/cellular/network selection and wait for the local cellular providers to populate, then select a provider that doesn’t handshake with Verizon. In my case I live in Thailand and I select AIS because it doesn’t use any of the same type of cell systems as Verizon being AIS is 100% gsm.
When calling the US put the phone in airplane mode. I’m on Verizon prepaid btw.
 
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ChoiMinji said:
This is what I do. Before departure turn on WiFi calling for the Verizon line. Turn off data roaming. And important, after landing at destination go into settings/cellular/network selection and wait for the local cellular providers to populate, then select a provider that doesn’t handshake with Verizon. In my case I live in Thailand and I select AIS because it doesn’t use any of the same type of cell systems as Verizon being AIS is 100% gsm.
When calling the US put the phone in airplane mode. I’m on Verizon prepaid btw.
Click to expand...

When did prepaid get international roaming? Last I used Verizon prepaid (5+ years ago), it didn't have roaming.
 
rui no onna said:
When did prepaid get international roaming? Last I used Verizon prepaid (5+ years ago), it didn't have roaming.
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Disable roaming to block any connection indicating being outside of the country which will initiate the $10 charge when making calls. As for your question, I have no idea because I always have disabled roaming per sim outside of its country.
 
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