Your 5-Minute Pre-Flight eSIM Checklist: Activate Your Plan Successfully

You’ve booked your flight, packed your bags, and purchased your travel eSIM. There's just one small, crucial step left to ensure you have seamless internet access the moment you land: the pre-flight setup.

Many travelers think they should wait until they arrive at their destination to even think about their eSIM. But the secret to a stress-free arrival is doing a quick setup before you leave home.

This simple, 5-minute checklist will walk you through everything you need to do while you still have a stable internet connection, so you can step off the plane and get connected instantly.

The Golden Rule: Install Your eSIM Before You Leave

Your eSIM requires an internet connection (like your Wi-Fi at home or work) to be downloaded and installed onto your phone. The QR code you received is essentially a link that tells your phone which cellular profile to download. Once you're on a plane or in a new country with no Wi-Fi, installation becomes much more difficult.

Your 5-Minute Pre-Flight Checklist

Follow these three simple steps before you head to the airport.

Step 1: Install the eSIM Profile

This is where you add the plan to your phone.

• Find Your QR Code: Open the email you received from us after your purchase.
• Go to Cellular Settings: On iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM. On Android (Samsung/Pixel): Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > + Add more.
• Scan the QR Code: Point your phone's camera at the QR code. Your phone will recognize it and begin downloading the eSIM profile.
• Label Your eSIM: When prompted, give your new eSIM a custom label like "Travel eSIM" or "Europe Data". This will help you easily distinguish it from your primary SIM.

Important: Do NOT activate the plan or turn on "Data Roaming" for this new eSIM yet. Just complete the installation.

For a more detailed walkthrough with screenshots for your specific device, see our complete installation guide.

Step 2: Confirm the eSIM is on Your Phone

Quickly double-check that the plan is ready and waiting.

• Go back to your cellular settings (Settings > Cellular on iPhone, Settings > Network & internet > SIMs on Android).
• You should now see your newly labeled eSIM in the list along with your primary SIM. It will likely say "Inactive" or show no signal, which is perfectly normal. This confirms it's installed and ready for the final step upon arrival.

Step 3: Keep Your Primary SIM Active

Don't turn off your home SIM card yet. You might need it for verification texts from your airline or bank before you fly.

• Ensure your primary (home) SIM is still turned on and selected for voice and text.
• In your cellular data settings, make sure your phone is still using your home plan for data for now.

What to Do When You Land (The 30-Second Activation)

Because you did the prep work above, this part is incredibly fast.

• Turn On Your eSIM: Go to your cellular settings and tap on your travel eSIM. Turn it on.
• Enable Data Roaming: In the settings for your travel eSIM, toggle "Data Roaming" to ON. This is essential for it to connect to local partner networks.
• Select it for Data: In your main cellular data settings, switch your data source from your primary SIM to your travel eSIM.

That's it! Within a minute, your phone should connect to the local network, and you'll see a signal indicator. You're now online. By following this simple checklist, you can travel with the confidence that your connectivity is sorted before your adventure even begins.