New York - UK/USA sim card

bignred05

Daughter is heading to New York for 6 days, early Feb 2024.

any advice please on the best option for data sim to use preferably as soon as she steps off the plane at JFK.

currently on EE in the UK and its not a cheap option to use 

*I've done a search on here, but the threads seem well out of date

TIA

bex2012

Has she logged into EE to see what her options are? Last time I went to NY (2019) roaming was about £5 a day. Other option is to buy a data sim at the airport, or turn data roaming off completely and rely on the wifi out there.

Doshwaster

Depends on how old the phone is, an eSIM would also be an option and would work as soon as you land. 

bignred05

bex2012 said:

Has she logged into EE to see what her options are? Last time I went to NY (2019) roaming was about £5 a day. Other option is to buy a data sim at the airport, or turn data roaming off completely and rely on the wifi out there.

I was hoping to get a data sim for no more than £10.

EE want to charge 

**although having checked again she might, just might qualify for free USA usage
I'll be calling EE 2moro now
Thanks

bignred05

Doshwaster said:

Depends on how old the phone is, an eSIM would also be an option and would work as soon as you land. 

iPhone 13.

On-the-coast

with an iphone 13 you could install an Esim for $5 for the USA.  E.g see Airilo (but there are other providers). I do this all the time (but i always check what my current provider would charge for roaming first becuase it's much simpler even if it costs a few pounds more).   If it's her first time setting up an Esim there is a chance it wont work as she gets off the plane. The configuration is more complex than it should be imo.

hugheskevi

You could get free 3 PAYG SIM and load it with a £10 bundle. That gives roaming in USA with 10 Gig of data valid for 30 days, which should be plenty of data for 6 days even with heavy use. Activate the SIM in the UK, switch phone setting to use data from that SIM when you are at UK airport and it will work without any further action on landing.

Doshwaster

On-the-coast said:

with an iphone 13 you could install an Esim for $5 for the USA.  E.g see Airilo (but there are other providers). I do this all the time (but i always check what my current provider would charge for roaming first becuase it's much simpler even if it costs a few pounds more).   If it's her first time setting up an Esim there is a chance it wont work as she gets off the plane. The configuration is more complex than it should be imo.

I used an eSIM for the first time last year in Thailand. It worked great and I will definitely use on again but I agree it was a little more fiddly to setup than it should be, especially if it's your first time using one.

For a week in the US, 1-2 GB should be enough as long as you don't use it for any media streaming - save that for when you are on the hotel's wifi.

bagand96

Another vote for 3 PAYG Sim with a data pack bought and activated just before she leaves. 

HogMan

As above 3, I have a dual SIM phone and with 3 sim card that I top up (£10) before I leave on my trips to US.

Many stores, restaurants and hotels will offer free wi-fi so I make sure to use them when available too. 

Also having a VPN is a must for me.

bignred05

Just to update the thread.

firstly thanks for the posts/advice.

I have checked with EE and it works out my daughter has an old contract that comes with a swappable benefit (add on)

so it works out she has free USA roaming (add on), what a relief