Like the title said. Activated 2 Unlimited Plan lines today in the USA (worked fine locally) and got on a plane to South America. Upon arrival, cannot connect to any network. Google FI support clarifies via chat this is intentional as I have not been an active customer in the USA for a long enough period to be entitled to the full product.

If anyone from the Google FI team reads this and wishes to remind me that this is entirely within your T&C I would recommend you make this clear to customers signing up. Perhaps you can say “Roaming in 200 countries - but not in the first 3 months”.

Support states per the FI policy it will not clarify how long the USA service needs to be active before global data is available - They literally told me to reach out to them prior to my next international trip the day before I leave to ask if their algorithm magically approved me for using their full product.

Edit: leaving this post up. tried to clarify to potential folks interested in signing up for this service to understand this unique product with global roaming to understand this will not be available to you for the first few months. Buyer beware. If you plan any travel within the first few months of signing up for Google Fi, reach out to their support prior to departure to ask if it will work when you arrive at your destination.

Some very specific questions. I'd like to use a second eSIM on our phones (Pixel 6 and iPhone 13) for international travel. GoogleFi seems like an ideal choice to use along with our Verizon service. It seems pretty straightforward to configure Settings to make GF the primary cellular data provider and block using Verizon for data.

Where I get confused is how to manage calls and texts. I want to keep the Verizon SIM active so I can see texts and incoming calls. But I want to respond using GF to avoid Verizon roaming charges. I believe what I want is:

1. The phone defaults to WiFi calling as first option, using a WiFi network that I am logged into

2. Second option if not logged into WiFi would be to do a WiFi call over the GF cellular data connection.

3. Last option would be to make a direct cell call with GF, at 20¢ per minute.

Is it possible to set this up so that the process is automatic, or will I need to fiddle with settings every time I want to make a call or text? Or is there a totally different option that is better?