Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming

[Brissy1]

Looks like Optus still has a $79 which includes roaming:

https://www.optus.com.au/qantasplans

but still+$5/day. I tried to sign up to an optus/ Qantas points plan last week but had trouble so messaged optus, all their postpaid choice plus plans have that $5 roaming option, so plans are from $49/mth less 25% as an existing customer (I'm optus broadband). Will cancel next week when it's served it's purpose.

 

[SYD]

but still+$5/day. I tried to sign up to an optus/ Qantas points plan last week but had trouble so messaged optus, all their postpaid choice plus plans have that $5 roaming option, so plans are from $49/mth less 25% as an existing customer (I'm optus broadband). Will cancel next week when it's served it's purpose.

The plan at the link has roaming calls/data etc included (no need for $5 pd). Not as attractive as $50 pm but might suit some.

 

[Brissy1]

The plan at the link has roaming calls/data etc included (no need for $5 pd). Not as attractive as $50 pm but might suit some.

Oh that Qantas plan actually would have been better for me if international roaming is included at no extra cost, but I presumed not, as inclusions state...
International Roaming
Automatically stay connected overseas with 5GB data with unlimited standard talk and text in over 100 Zone 1 destinations.
Learn more
and on clicking "learn more" it refers to $5/day extra.
Now I don't know, I'll check before next trip.

 

[SYD]

Oh that Qantas plan actually would have been better for me if international roaming is included at no extra cost, but I presumed not, as inclusions state...
International Roaming
Automatically stay connected overseas with 5GB data with unlimited standard talk and text in over 100 Zone 1 destinations.
Learn more
and on clicking "learn more" it refers to $5/day extra.
Now I don't know, I'll check before next trip.

The $39 and $59 show “$5 Roaming (Optional)” meaning you PAYG but the the $79 plan has “International Roaming” included.

 

[transpactraveller]

I contacted Optus chat to ask if I could switch to that $79 Qantas plan instead of them moving me to the $49 Optus Choice Plan. Thought that would be easy - I'm offering to pay $30 more each month! They said no, and also tried to suggest that people on this Qantas plan are being moved to "Optus Choice" plans too.

Has just confirmed in my mind to leave Optus and port elsewhere.

 

[Brissy1]

The $39 and $59 show “$5 Roaming (Optional)” meaning you PAYG but the the $79 plan has “International Roaming” included.

Awesome, I'll get one for my next trip, even Sri Lanka included. No doubt cheaper options but this very convenient...buy, activate before leaving and auto connect on arrival.

 

[SYD]

Looks like it's gone now.

Optus emailed me today to say they're changing my plan to remove all included roaming data, starting in May.

Looking for alternatives ASAP, I fly to the US/Canada for month in about 2 weeks.

Has anyone else been advised that their Optus $50 pm plan is being “enhanced”? I just rolled over another month and still nothing seen nor heard. Neither has SYD+1.

 

[Subharpoon]

Has anyone else been advised that their Optus $50 pm plan is being “enhanced”? I just rolled over another month and still nothing seen nor heard. Neither has SYD+1.

Nothing here either.

 

[MattA]

Has anyone else been advised that their Optus $50 pm plan is being “enhanced”? I just rolled over another month and still nothing seen nor heard. Neither has SYD+1.

At the risk of tempting fate by talking about it, I haven't been "enhanced" yet either. I'm sure it's only a matter of time but it will be a real shame when it happens. I've got quite used to simply being able to turn on my phone os without having to worry about roaming costs. Also kind of frustrating that I stuck with this plan through the COVID years and they are pulling it now that international travel is back...

No way I'm paying $5/day for roaming so it will be back to local SIMs, although with the added challenge of working out how to receive any 2FA SMS codes/texts to my AU mobile number without triggering the $5/day charge (is it possible?)

Actually when they cut me off from this it will likely be time to port away from Optus -- my EPL team looks like it's about to get itself relegated this year so I'll have no need for Optus Sport either, which is the other thing that's been keeping me with them... (something that's also been "enhanced" recently, from a free inclusion to $6.99/month)

 

[SYD]

No way I'm paying $5/day for roaming so it will be back to local SIMs, although with the added challenge of working out how to receive any 2FA SMS codes/texts to my AU mobile number without triggering the $5/day charge (is it possible?)

Receiving an SMS overseas shouldn’t trigger roaming costs. Otherwise the warning text you get that you’re overseas would trigger the fee! Also, you actually have to turn on the daily roaming pack option via the app. The other option is PAYG (and possible bill shock). There’s another option to turn off roaming - but I don’t know if that turns off everything (including receiving SMS)?

But all of the main Oz Telcos ought to allow receiving SMS for free one way or another.

 

[MattA]

Receiving an SMS overseas shouldn’t trigger roaming costs. Otherwise the warning text you get that you’re overseas would trigger the fee! Also, you actually have to turn on the daily roaming pack option via the app. The other option is PAYG (and possible bill shock). There’s another option to turn off roaming - but I don’t know if that turns off everything (including receiving SMS)?

But all of the main Oz Telcos ought to allow receiving SMS for free one way or another.

Ah right, got it. I read something about it being "auto activated" but didn't read the detail. Previously (before the Optus included roaming plan) I always used to be super paranoid about bill shock so I would just leave my phone in airplane mode with wifi on (or swap out for a local SIM).

 

[Andrewt]

Has anyone else been advised that their Optus $50 pm plan is being “enhanced”? I just rolled over another month and still nothing seen nor heard. Neither has SYD+1.

I haven't received it yet either, I'm on the $59 Optus Choice.
Just returned from Europe where it is a great service but not at $5/day - struggled to use the 4GB in 2 weeks, no way will do I need 5GB a day.

 

[Brissy1]

all of the main Oz Telcos ought to allow receiving SMS for free one way or another.

Vodafone does too.

I think I need a spreadsheet for my accounts! Carrying 3 phones atm, iPhone for FaceTime and airtag, other Androids have their particular function like os calling, 3 other family mobiles are somehow are in my name (and there aren't 3 other family members). At my age I should be worried about the consequences of getting Alzheimer's.

 

[transpactraveller]

Has anyone else been advised that their Optus $50 pm plan is being “enhanced”? I just rolled over another month and still nothing seen nor heard. Neither has SYD+1.

Are you paying with direct debit?

I got told they are first moving all the people who paid their bill manually, because the new plans do not have that option and are direct debit only (so the change also forces everyone on to direct debit auto payments).

 

[SYD]

Are you paying with direct debit?

Yes

I got told they are first moving all the people who paid their bill manually, because the new plans do not have that option and are direct debit only (so the change also forces everyone on to direct debit auto payments).

 

[exceladdict]

Having some major problems roaming with this plan in our iPhone at the moment - works for a few minutes, then internet completely hangs. Has anyone experienced this or have a solution?

 

[SYD]

Having some major problems roaming with this plan in our iPhone at the moment - works for a few minutes, then internet completely hangs. Has anyone experienced this or have a solution?

Where are you?

We’re in the US and working with T-Mobile and AT&T - the later often with 5G.

Edit: make sure you’re on Auto network selection and “Mobile Date Network” in settings is as follows:

 

[exceladdict]

Where are you?

We’re in the US and working with T-Mobile and AT&T - the later often with 5G.

Edit: make sure you’re on Auto network selection and “Mobile Date Network” in settings is as follows:
View attachment 326240

In Europe - the giffgaff Sim has worked fine so far but the optus roaming one seems to hang. Similar experience to when i roamed with it in the Philippines back in 2019. Settings look fine as you've described - was on auto network before but might try forcing selection to see if one is more reliable than the one it is defaulting to.

 

[SYD]

In Europe - the giffgaff Sim has worked fine so far but the optus roaming one seems to hang. Similar experience to when i roamed with it in the Philippines back in 2019. Settings look fine as you've described - was on auto network before but might try forcing selection to see if one is more reliable than the one it is defaulting to.

Yep. We had to do that in Berlin. One network provided data but no calls. Another allowed calls but no data…

If your phone is 5G capable, you might try changing the 5G to 4G only and see if that’s more stable.

 

[Zinger]

I arrived at CDG last Monday night. While on the train I was mugged and my phone stolen.

Security and police were very helpful. I made it to my accommodation hours later and managed to get online to Optus to request my $50 account be suspended until I could sort things out. That took over two hours with their chat people. Two were more interested in changing my plan than actually suspending my number.

I need a phone so bought a new replacement iPhone. Again back to the Optus chat people to request the suspension of my account be reversed and to obtain an esim to replace the one in the stolen phone.

After several attempts and about four hours I managed to get the suspension of my number reversed. Again the attempts to change my phone plan which I flat out refused. Each chat person was unbelievably more inept than the last.

Mention esim and it's like talking to a pumpkin.

Another three hours with several more incompetent Optus employees I was given instructions to apply the esim. After the second step I was greeted with a message saying I have not ordered an esim.

Another 90 minutes explaining the issue I was told to call Optus in Oz. Stuff it! I bought a local SIM card which had 30 minutes of overseas calls available. Of course I was on hold for that amount of time so now need to buy another SIM card with longer overseas calling time.

I would have thought after answering many security questions and contacting Optus through my account a simple QR code could have been emailed to me. That's what I would have considered to be one of the main benefits of using an esim in my situation.

Although the 4Gb of included roaming per month is a great benefit, when I return to Oz in the next few months I'll be looking elsewhere for a mobile phone carrier. Meanwhile I have to wait until Monday business hours in Oz to attempt to phone Optus again and talk to someone who will just stuff around, ask inane questions, do as little as possible and try to put me on a different plan.