Hold onto your legacy plans if they include free roaming

[DrGear]

I've been with Optus for like, 12 years, and 5 years ago I got my usual iPhone on a decent plan in 2019. Went up in price twice since I got it, but for $63 a month I get all the standard call and text inclusions, plus 160GB of data AND unlimited roaming in the band 1 countries PLUS 2GB of mobile data to use per month in those countries. I just buy my phone outright now as the missus works for Apple so it's better value that way.

I went to look at the current plans and the equivalent one, which is $62 a month, has 20GB of data more but gone is the free roaming. $5 a day for international roaming. $150 a month. If I only ever used the international roaming once for a 3 week trip, I'd be ahead forever. Luckily I tend to do for about 3-4 weeks each time so the savings are sizeable. I swear, I will hold onto this plan until the day they wrench it from me which undoubtedly, they will. If you're on a legacy plan, I'd hold onto them as there's no value in changing plans given how poor the value is these days.

 

[SYD]

I’m surprised you still have one of those plans! Optus were shutting them down.

A lot of us were on the $50 pm plan that launched in April 2019, only to get “enhanced” the middle of last year…

D

Thread 'Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming'

Apr 14, 2019

Optus have a new $50/mth SIM only plan with unlimited calls and data in “Zone 1” countries, and 4GB Roaming Data a month.

I think it’s probably one of the best roaming deals out there as there’s no daily fee, and no limit on number of days as far as I can see.

I found out about it in my The Sizzle subscription.

SIM Only Plans | Mobile Phones - Optus

Get a SIM only plan with awesome inclusions from Optus when you bring your own phone. Shop online & buy an Optus SIM with free shipping now.

www.optus.com.au

--> pick 12 month contract and scroll to $50

• DeKa
• Replies: 254
• Forum: International Roaming & Internet Access

• 

A few of us were able to negotiate significantly reduced rates, bonus data etc. Which saved me quite a lot of money but the $5 roaming is very flaky if you try and use it on demand (ie not daily). So I eventually ditched Optus….. Bizarrely, their LCC sibling (amaysim) will sell you 12mths roaming calls/txt (capped) for $20. Use that in conjunction with a data eSIM and I’m still in front.

 

[DrGear]

I’m surprised you still have one of those plans! Optus were shutting them down.

A lot of us were on the $50 pm plan that launched in April 2019, only to get “enhanced” the middle of last year…

D

Thread 'Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming'

Apr 14, 2019

Optus have a new $50/mth SIM only plan with unlimited calls and data in “Zone 1” countries, and 4GB Roaming Data a month.

I think it’s probably one of the best roaming deals out there as there’s no daily fee, and no limit on number of days as far as I can see.

I found out about it in my The Sizzle subscription.

SIM Only Plans | Mobile Phones - Optus

Get a SIM only plan with awesome inclusions from Optus when you bring your own phone. Shop online & buy an Optus SIM with free shipping now.

www.optus.com.au

--> pick 12 month contract and scroll to $50

• DeKa
• Replies: 254
• Forum: International Roaming & Internet Access

• 

A few of us were able to negotiate significantly reduced rates, bonus data etc. Which saved me quite a lot of money but the $5 roaming is very flaky if you try and use it on demand (ie not daily). So I eventually ditched Optus….. Bizarrely, their LCC sibling (amaysim) will sell you 12mths roaming calls/txt (capped) for $20. Use that in conjunction with a data eSIM and I’m still in front.

I’m surprised too. Normally they kick you off the plan like 12 months after the contract ends. This is my business phone though so maybe there’s something there which means the legacy plans stay available longer?

Good tip about the Amaysim thing. I rarely use more than 20% of my monthly data as I’m always near WiFi and my commute is 10 minutes so when they nuke the plan, I’ll be jumping ship and finding something cheaper.