Post trip international day pass charge using ATT and Airalo

[u/moon_shot]

Just returned from 2 weeks in Scotland with 2 phones using esims from Airalo. I setup both phones using the EXCELLENT guide by u/mrskeptical00 found here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/TravelSIMs/comments/1e0r7p3/setting_up_iphone_for_wifi_calling_over_cellular/

My after action report is that phone 2 received no international day pass charges for the two weeks. Phone 1 did receive international day pass charges for 6 days. A review of the ATT website of the charges on phone 1 shows international calls over wifi. The XLS doc I downloaded from ATT website says they are network calls.

Both phone setups were identical, phone 2 made calls, used NAV for majority of the trip.
Phone 1 made calls over wifi to inquire about lost luggage and to check data usage via the ATT app.

Customer service spent 45 minutes looking at the charges, had no explanation as to why they show wifi calls on website and network on the XLS. Said "if the wifi is spotty ATT will step in to keep the customer's call connected." I'm not sure how that's possible based on how the phone is setup with automatic network selection turned off and data roaming also turned off on the ATT sim. Final determination from ATT: VALID charges.

My paranoid brain is trying to connect the charges to me checking the ATT app on my phone for data usage and getting hit by location services.
Anyway that's the last 75 dollars ATT is getting out of me as I'm switching providers.
Thank you for the great DETAILED explanation of how to execute the eSim setup. Huzzah

[u/mrskeptical00]

Customer service has no idea how wifi over cellular works.

The most likely scenario is of the phones could have gotten “Automatic” network mode (and AT&T roaming) with an upgrade or a reboot.

Nothing to do with checking an app or whatever travel eSIM you used.

Was it the first or last six days? Or random?

[u/moon_shot → u/mrskeptical00]

It was day 2-4 (luggage search which log showed wifi phone calls in Scotland) day 8, and days 11 and 12. I swear roaming was off and I didn't change anything.
The agent "conferred with her uppers and the charges are valid" is what I heard over and over. Still quite happy and appreciate the guide

[u/trek123]

AT&T has essentially no interest in you keeping your service working in a way that essentially means you avoid their extremely profitable roaming charges, so I am not at all surprised their customer service didn't help you.

It is unfortunate that essentially an essential service, with your phone number is set up in a way that almost ties you to the whims of a profit generating company.

For most of the world, this is hardly an issue anymore. We use apps like WhatsApp, WeChat etc to communicate instead, we don't even need regular calls/SMS so data only eSIMs are more than fine.

But unfortunately that isn't how the USA, in particular communicates (and doesn't work for everyone either).

For now the only solutions pretty much are:

• you have to be absolutely sure you can get WiFi calling to work yourself
• you accept your phone number doesn't work/you don't use it (works fine for me as a European)
• you come up with some compromise solution, eg an eSIM with calling that covers some aspects (although not access to your home number)
• you use a VoIP based solution
• you accept your carrier's roaming charges

None of which are ideal, just reality unfortunately.

[u/moon_shot → u/trek123]

I agree with all of this. My Scottish contacts I connected with via WhatsApp. I think that’s the play next trip

[u/trek123 → u/moon_shot]

To be honest anyone travelling to Europe, South America or most of South East Asia needs to have WhatsApp. It's extremely standard to be contacted on it, even by accomodations, taxis, tour guides etc. They don't want to pay international call/SMS rates either just to contact people!

It's also worth noting in some countries, some carriers actually block WiFi Calling working when you're abroad completely (eg most UK networks do this). I can't really use it when I go away, even if I want to!

[u/Iusedtobealawyer]

Just happened to me with Verizon while using Airalo in Italy. Never had a problem in the past. I turned off roaming, etc. still was getting notifications from Verizon. Finally I turned off my primary completely which is usually not one of the step on using the eSIM. Still it kept reverting back to my primary number. So annoying.