Honest answers to common questions.

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a small chip already inside your phone that can hold a mobile plan without a physical SIM card. Instead of swapping a tray, you download the plan onto the chip — usually in about ten seconds — and your phone can use it like any other line.

Most iPhones from the iPhone XS onward support eSIM. Most modern eSIM-capable Android phones (Samsung Galaxy S20+, Pixel 4+, and many others) support it too. US iPhone 14 and later are eSIM-only — there’s no physical SIM tray at all.

Is my phone eSIM-compatible?

On iPhone: open Settings → General → About. Scroll to "Available SIM." If you see an eSIM line, you’re set.

On Android: open the dialer and type *#06#. If your phone shows an EID number, it has an eSIM chip. Compatibility also depends on whether your carrier locked the eSIM — some sold-by-carrier phones disable eSIM until unlocked.

How do I install my eSIM?

After purchase, you’ll receive an email with two install paths. On iPhone running iOS 17.4 or later, the Apple Universal Link is one tap — it opens the eSIM setup flow directly.

On older iPhones, on Android, or if the Universal Link doesn’t resolve for any reason, the QR code in the same email is the fallback. Open Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM on iPhone, or Settings → Network → SIMs → Add → Download a SIM instead on Android, and scan the QR.

Should I install before I fly?

Yes. Install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi, while you have time to troubleshoot. The eSIM downloads onto your phone but won’t activate until it first connects to a network in your destination country — so installing early costs you nothing.

Activating in the airport with a long line behind you and no Wi-Fi is the worst time to discover an install issue.

Can I keep my home line for two-factor codes?

Yes, and we recommend it. iPhone and most modern Android phones support dual SIM: your home line for voice, SMS, and 2FA codes; the TravelCoach eSIM for data.

After install, go to Settings → Cellular (iOS) or Settings → SIMs (Android). Set the home line as the default for voice/SMS and the TravelCoach line as the default for cellular data. Turn data roaming on for the TravelCoach line only — not globally — so your home plan can’t accidentally roam.

Do I need to register or send ID?

Not for short tourist stays in the countries we list. The wholesale plans we sell are roaming-based; they don’t require local KYC, IMEI registration, or paperwork for trips under the relevant local threshold (typically 90–120 days).

A few countries do enforce phone-IMEI registration for long stays — Turkey is the most well-known. We cover the specifics in country-by-country detail on our blog.

When does the eSIM activate?

The plan’s validity window starts the moment your phone first connects to a network in the destination country. So you can install at home, fly with airplane mode on, and the clock won’t start until you land.

On some plans the clock starts on first network attach regardless of country — we mark these explicitly on the plan page. Default is destination-only attach.

What if my eSIM doesn’t activate?

First: make sure data roaming is on for the TravelCoach line only (not for your home line). Then airplane-mode off → on, which forces a network rescan.

If that doesn’t work inside 24 hours of arriving in country, your order page has a one-tap refund button. No support ticket required. The refund hits your card in 5–10 business days.

How does the refund window work?

You get a full refund within 24 hours of fulfillment if the eSIM never activated. The clock starts when we email you the install link, not when you arrive — so install early.

If the eSIM did activate (even partially) the refund window closes; that’s standard across the industry because the underlying wholesale plan has been consumed.

Can I use hotspot / tethering?

On every plan we sell, yes. Hotspot is enabled at the same speed as your primary connection.

Some other resellers throttle hotspot speeds or block it outright. If a provider doesn’t mention hotspot on the plan page, assume it’s blocked. Ours always says.

Is “unlimited” really unlimited?

Almost never, across the entire travel-eSIM category. “Unlimited” plans virtually always include a fair-use throttle — a daily soft cap (commonly 1–3 GB) above which speeds drop to dial-up rates.

If a plan we sell has a throttle, the plan page lists the exact threshold and post-throttle speed. We don’t sell “unlimited” plans without that disclosure.

Can I top up if I run out of data?

On most plans, yes. The top-up adds data and (usually) extends the validity window. Top-up support is per-plan: look for the "Top-up available" badge on the plan card or the order page.

When top-up isn’t available on a plan, buying a fresh eSIM is the alternative — install on a different eSIM slot, switch over, and the old one expires on its existing schedule.

No signal after landing — what do I check?

Airplane mode off → on to force a rescan. Data roaming on for the TravelCoach line. Cellular data set to "TravelCoach" (not your home line). Some networks take 60–90 seconds for first attach; give it a minute before deciding it’s broken.

If after a few minutes the line still shows "No service," the underlying carrier may be congested in your area. Try moving outside or closer to a window if you’re in an airport interior.

Speeds feel slow — is it my plan?

Often, no. Foreign carriers in some countries (Thailand is the most common) throttle "unlimited" travel plans after a daily soft cap. Check the plan page for the post-throttle speed.

In rural areas, even the strongest local carrier may only support 4G LTE or HSPA+. Coverage isn’t uniform inside any country. Try running a speed test on Wi-Fi to confirm whether the slowness is mobile or network-wide.

I lost my QR code or install email.

Your order page has the install link plus a resend-email button. Sign in with the same address you used at purchase and you can re-trigger the email or copy the install string directly.

The QR code itself is generated on demand at your order page; if you can reach the page, you can re-scan.

Where do I find my past orders?

Sign in and visit your orders page. Each order shows status, install info, and any available top-up or refund actions.

Where’s my receipt?

Emailed at purchase. If you didn’t receive it, check spam, then the orders page (each order page has a "Resend receipt" button).

How do I delete my account?

Account → Privacy → Delete account. The deletion anonymizes your profile and email. Past orders remain visible to you for 24 hours, then are detached from your identity for legal-retention compliance.