topic Re: Roaming in USA in Other Products and Services

Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 14:08:48 GMT

Hello, I’m on an O2 SIM only tariff, paying monthly. I’m confused about the best way to use my phone in the USA.

I’ve looked at the website and there appear to be two options:

1. the Data Roaming Bolt On - Zone 1, £9 for 100mb;

2. the O2 Travel Bolt On - £6 per day.

can anyone explain why there are two different options, the differences between the two and which is the most cost effective? I just really need it for texts & Whatsapp messages, Google maps etc, no streaming.

regards,

Gordon.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 14:10:50 GMT

@Gordon434

Depends on your tariff which we can't know.

See guides for help

Data speeds are also capped at 2mbps so a local T-Mobile sim might suit you better.

Re: Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 14:46:23 GMT

Hello, thank you for relying.

I eventually got through to an O2 person who said that my tariff includes the O2 Travel Bolt On and thus I don’t have to pay anything extra whilst I’m in the USA.

That sounds fine to me. As I won’t have any need for streaming, is the speed of 2mbps likely to affect me at all?

Regards,

Gordon.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 15:12:35 GMT

@Gordon434

You're welcome.

You can check which bolt ons you have in your MyO2.

Re: Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 15:28:08 GMT

I've just checked again and it's not noted there. Just something about a 5G bolt on. But the O2 customer service did assure me that I had it.

Regards,

Gordon.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 15:29:39 GMT

@Gordon434

I wouldn't believe that if it's not in your MyO2.

Sorry but customer service are useless and it could be very costly to you.

Re: Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 16:46:37 GMT

Thanks MI5, that's a bit worrying. If I look at possible bolt-ons there's this one -

"O2 Travel (for O2 Travel Inclusive Zone)

Stay connected in selected destinations outside our Europe and O2 Travel Inclusive Zones. Costs £6.00 a day, when used.

FREE"

So I wonder if I should be adding that? Maybe I should call them again to query the situation. I had to hang on for 30 minutes as it was but no problem with the speaker phone. But she definitely said there was no cost.

Regards,

Gordon.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 17:09:14 GMT

@Gordon434

Travel inclusive (the free one) is only available on certain tariffs or for Volt customers.

It cannot be added.

O2 Travel can be added but it will cost you £6 on the days you use it.

Re: Roaming in USA

Enlli — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 17:51:33 GMT

Even if they said you had Travel Bolt On it would not be free. Costs £6 for every day used

You would need the Travel Inclusive for that.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 18:05:41 GMT

Yes, as I said already.

Re: Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 22:41:00 GMT

Maybe that’s what they meant, ie that I have Travel Inclusive. I’ll phone them.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 23:06:11 GMT

@Gordon434

Unless it is a bolt on in your MyO2, you don't have it regardless of what customer service tell you.

Re: Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 10:46:14 GMT

I've looked into my account again and this is what it says:

"You’re all signed up

Congratulations - you’re all set for supercharged benefits, just for being with Virgin Media and O2. Here’s what you’re getting (eligibility rules apply)." and goes on to say

"Supercharged connectivity

Up to three WiFi Boosters at no extra cost, plus O2 Travel."

So that certainly seems to say I'm covered in the USA. Maybe because I'm with VM & O2 I get a special deal.

Regards,

Gordon.

Re: Roaming in USA

pgn — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 10:51:25 GMT

Yes, @Gordon434 - "because I'm with VM & O2 I get a special deal." -

It includes the VOLT perk "Travel Inclusive" which gives you data at no charge in USA, with these provisos:

Your bolt on should resemble this:

Enjoy the trip.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 11:21:15 GMT

@Gordon434

Yes, as I said in my reply #8 Travel Inclusive is included for Volt customers.

It will show in your bolt ons as per the image I posted in my reply #12

Enjoy your holiday

Re: Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 13:57:04 GMT

Thanks. Don’t know if I’m a Volt customer or not but as I said previously, I only have one Bolt-on showing and that’s for 5g but this other reference definitely indicates that I have Travel Inclusive. Maybe it’s part of the package rather than a Bolt-on.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 14:36:28 GMT

@Gordon434

If you have an O2 sim and Virgin broadband you are definitely a volt customer.

Re: Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 16:22:36 GMT

Dear All, thanks once again for all the advice. Whilst MyO2 only shows one Bolt-on (the 5G thing), if I look at my bill it shows -

Monthly extra charges

5G Access Bolt On: 5 Nov 23 to 4 Dec 23

Volt O2 Travel Inclusive Zone: 5 Nov 23 to 4 Dec 23

5GB Volt Double Data Boost: 5 Nov 23 to 4 Dec 23

Total monthly extras

(the bill shows £0.00 against each of those lines)

So that would appear to show that I DO have the Travel Inclusive Zone thing. Nevertheless I think I'll still call them.

Cheers,

Gordon.

Re: Roaming in USA

MI5 — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 16:24:48 GMT

@Gordon434

It looks like you are on the new 360 billing system so it is displayed differently for you and added monthly, but yes, you are covered for travel inclusive and free US roaming.

Re: Roaming in USA

Gordon434 — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 16:53:19 GMT

Thanks MI5!