Air India EasyRoam eSIM: costs, free data and setup
Air India launched EasyRoam, its international travel SIM and eSIM service with Tata Communications, on October 8, 2026. The offer is aimed at Air India customers traveling abroad and initially covers 30 countries. The introductory SIM charge is waived, but paid roaming packs start at INR 241 excluding taxes, with the price depending on the destination and package.
There are two different free-data descriptions to check. Air India's live FAQ offers 100 MB of global data valid for three days with the SIM or eSIM purchase. The launch announcement separately advertises up to 1 GB of additional data when buying a data plan, excluding the Maldives and Mauritius. Neither description means every passenger receives a free 1 GB full-trip plan.
Before you buy: check the exact destination pack, its total price with taxes, data allowance and validity. Complete the mandatory identity check before departure, and confirm that your phone is unlocked. Treat any extra data as a bonus until the order confirms it.
What the EasyRoam launch includes
The Tata Communications announcement describes physical SIM and eSIM options, with data-only and voice-plus-data packages. The website is the current purchase channel; availability in the Air India mobile app is planned.
The 30 destinations named in Air India's live FAQ are:
United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Qatar, France, Nepal, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Japan, Austria, Israel, Indonesia, South Korea, Kenya, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Oman, Mauritius and Maldives.
That list describes where EasyRoam plans are offered. It does not mean one country pack covers every destination. The announced expansion to as many as 190 countries is a future plan.
For a London, Paris and Rome itinerary, check that the selected regional or global package explicitly includes the UK, France and Italy. Do the same for a Singapore stopover on the way to Australia. A flight connection does not add a country to a mobile plan.
Set up the eSIM before the airport rush
Air India's published purchase sequence starts with choosing an activation date and signing in or creating an account. After purchase, the confirmation email includes an eKYC link. Air India says this electronic identity verification is mandatory under Department of Telecommunications requirements. The eSIM QR code follows verification.
Allow time to complete those steps on a reliable connection. The public page does not give a document checklist or a guaranteed verification time, so check the requirements before relying on it for arrival data. Follow the selected pack's start rule rather than assuming that buying, installing and connecting all happen at the same moment.
If you are helping a parent or another family member, have their phone available for installation and check the instructions together. Air India permits up to five EasyRoam SIMs in one customer's name for family members, but that is not a promise of a shared data pool or a group discount.
The guides to checking whether your phone supports eSIM and installing an eSIM before travel cover the general device and timing checks. EasyRoam's own package instructions take priority.
When a separate OpenSim plan is worth comparing
EasyRoam is worth considering if you are an eligible Air India customer and its selected package fits your route, especially when you need the voice or SMS included in a qualifying pack. Confirm those inclusions; they are not available with every plan.
For a UK-only trip where the main need is mobile data, OpenSim gives you another allowance and validity to compare. On October 10, 2026, the public catalog listed a United Kingdom 10 GB plan valid for 30 days at USD 8.56, with top-up support for that specific plan. Check the live checkout price before buying.
That example is useful if you want a defined full-trip data budget and an eligible plan you can top up. Compare it with the actual EasyRoam UK pack, including taxes, validity and any confirmed bonus. The INR 241 launch price does not identify a like-for-like UK allowance, so it cannot establish which option costs less.
Check the selected OpenSim plan's guidance for calls, SMS and hotspot support if any of those are essential. For broader choices, see travel eSIM versus home-network roaming.
Questions to answer before choosing EasyRoam
Is Air India EasyRoam free?
The introductory SIM or eSIM charge is waived. Roaming packs are paid, starting at INR 241 excluding taxes. Air India's FAQ lists 100 MB of welcome data for three days, while the separate up-to-1-GB offer requires a data-plan purchase and excludes the Maldives and Mauritius. Air India does not publish an offer end date on its overview.
Is the welcome data enough for a whole trip?
Do not budget a whole holiday around 100 MB. Your usage depends on maps, messages, uploads, video and access to Wi-Fi. Compare a paid allowance with your needs and save maps offline. The travel data guide helps you estimate usage without assuming that 10 GB suits everyone.
Does EasyRoam cover every country on my trip?
Only if the package's country list includes every stop where you need service. Air India says a regional or global pack works in its listed destinations, while a single-country pack is intended for that country. Check stopovers as well as the main destination.
Can I arrange EasyRoam for my family?
Air India says one customer can take up to five SIMs in their name for family members. Check each person's phone, installation details and selected plan. The published family limit does not establish shared data, a discount or an exemption from identity checks.
Can I install EasyRoam before departure?
The service is designed for advance setup. Choose the activation date, complete the purchase and mandatory eKYC, then use the emailed QR code. Check when the selected package starts and how long it lasts. Do not leave identity verification until landing if you need data immediately.
Will EasyRoam work on my phone?
Air India requires a network-unlocked phone for both the physical SIM and eSIM. The digital option also needs an eSIM-capable model. A phone supporting eSIM can still be carrier-locked, so check both points with your existing provider before buying.
Can I make calls and receive SMS?
Air India says selected EasyRoam plans include voice calls and SMS, depending on the destination and package. Data-only plans should not be treated as equivalent. Confirm the minutes, texts and number details if you need ordinary telephone calls rather than app calls.
Will WhatsApp keep my usual number?
Air India says installing the travel SIM or eSIM does not automatically change the number registered to your existing WhatsApp account. Apps can use the active data connection while allowance remains. Avoid re-registering an account with a new number unless you intend to change it.
Will EasyRoam receive my Indian bank OTPs?
A new travel SIM does not redirect messages sent to your usual Indian number. Keep that line's validity and overseas SMS requirements separate from travel data. Ask your home carrier about incoming SMS, charges and Wi-Fi calling abroad; do not assume that a data pack or hotel Wi-Fi guarantees bank OTP delivery.
When does OpenSim make more sense?
Compare OpenSim when you want a destination data plan with an allowance and validity matching your stay. The dated UK example above offers 10 GB for 30 days and supports top-ups. Before choosing either provider, confirm start timing, hotspot support and refund terms for the specific pack. EasyRoam's public overview does not settle those details for every package.
Sources and updates
This article uses Tata Communications' October 8 launch announcement, Air India's EasyRoam page and FAQ, and its linked Xtreme+ purchase page, checked on October 10, 2026. The OpenSim UK example was checked on the same date.
We will update this page when the country list, introductory offers, verification instructions or package terms change, and review those details again within 90 days. Confirm the selected pack's current terms before purchase.
