Travel logistics and cell phone

[pamawemo 78]

I'm hoping my fiance will be heading to the US in March. She is traveling alone and we are trying to figure out how we can stay in touch during her travels. She has a cell phone in the Philippines but I think it is locked. And she was considering leaving her phone for her mom. Can I send her a cell phone that she will then use once she is in the US? What would people suggest?

[Hank_ 9,173]

3 minutes ago, pamawemo said:

I'm hoping my fiance will be heading to the US in March. She is traveling alone and we are trying to figure out how we can stay in touch during her travels. She has a cell phone in the Philippines but I think it is locked. And she was considering leaving her phone for her mom. Can I send her a cell phone that she will then use once she is in the US? What would people suggest?

You could send a phone but the cost to ship would make it a very expensive phone

 

An OPPO A37 works with Sprint & ATT (Ting & Cricket or Tracfone for short term service) costs about $100 in the Phils new.

 

Most airports have wifi and she could use messenger or such even. ... just an idea.

 

 

[payxibka 10,044]

4 minutes ago, pamawemo said:

I'm hoping my fiance will be heading to the US in March. She is traveling alone and we are trying to figure out how we can stay in touch during her travels. She has a cell phone in the Philippines but I think it is locked. And she was considering leaving her phone for her mom. Can I send her a cell phone that she will then use once she is in the US? What would people suggest?

They don't have locked cellphones per se like we do.  All they need to do is swap in a different sim card and they change carriers.

 

A wifi device would probably be the best idea

 

 

[aaron2020 11,651]

Even if a phone is locked, Wi Fi still works.  You can use FB Messenger.  WhatsApp.  Viber.  Most airports have free Wi Fi.  

[pamawemo 78]

Just now, payxibka said:

They don't have locked cellphones per se like we do.  All they need to do is swap in a different sim card and they change carriers.

 

A wifi device would probably be the best idea

 

 

Ok, thanks. She doesn't have another wifi device; just her phone. I'm planning to add her to my account and I have an extra phone that will be hers. I suppose I could activate it and send it to her and she could at least call when she gets to the states. Guess I better check to see if I can even send a cell phone. She is just nervous and wants to be able to contact me as needed.

[payxibka 10,044]

Just now, pamawemo said:

Ok, thanks. She doesn't have another wifi device; just her phone. I'm planning to add her to my account and I have an extra phone that will be hers. I suppose I could activate it and send it to her and she could at least call when she gets to the states. Guess I better check to see if I can even send a cell phone. She is just nervous and wants to be able to contact me as needed.

Understand the nerves, just be aware that no phone use is allowed while she is in the CBP area

[aaron2020 11,651]

2 minutes ago, pamawemo said:

Ok, thanks. She doesn't have another wifi device; just her phone. I'm planning to add her to my account and I have an extra phone that will be hers. I suppose I could activate it and send it to her and she could at least call when she gets to the states. Guess I better check to see if I can even send a cell phone. She is just nervous and wants to be able to contact me as needed.

You are making this more complicated than it needs to be.

Have her take her phone.  Once she is in the US, she can send the phone back to her mom when all this travel BS is over.

 

Why add the stress of sending her a new phone now?  One she is unfamiliar with.

Edited January 21, 2019 by aaron2020

[pamawemo 78]

2 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Even if a phone is locked, Wi Fi still works.  You can use FB Messenger.  WhatsApp.  Viber.  Most airports have free Wi Fi.  

Oh, awesome. I think I will just have her bring her phone and we can communicate with one of those options. Less hassle. Thank you!

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

We both have iphones, so when my husband went through Dubai on a layover (his choice to fly that route) he just connected to wifi and we facetimed briefly on his layover.

[Khallaf 646]

35 minutes ago, pamawemo said:

Oh, awesome. I think I will just have her bring her phone and we can communicate with one of those options. Less hassle. Thank you!

keep in mind it will have to clear customs, and be declared over a certain value, and then whoever is picking it up will have to pay tax on the phone based on the value. IDK if it is the same in the Philippines as I know it is in Egypt

[payxibka 10,044]

It would probably be cheaper to buy momma a new phone than the cost of shipping one from the USA 

[pamawemo 78]

6 minutes ago, payxibka said:

It would probably be cheaper to buy momma a new phone than the cost of shipping one from the USA 

I like how you think. 

[Hank_ 9,173]

4 hours ago, pamawemo said:

Ok, thanks. She doesn't have another wifi device; just her phone. I'm planning to add her to my account and I have an extra phone that will be hers. I suppose I could activate it and send it to her and she could at least call when she gets to the states. Guess I better check to see if I can even send a cell phone. She is just nervous and wants to be able to contact me as needed.

Not all phones from the Philippine are on the same bands as the carries in the States so be prepared for it not to work.   

 

Get the IMEI numbers from her phone and check it with your carrier .. that will tell them if it will even work with your carrier.

[juggy_11 18]

22 hours ago, pamawemo said:

I'm hoping my fiance will be heading to the US in March. She is traveling alone and we are trying to figure out how we can stay in touch during her travels. She has a cell phone in the Philippines but I think it is locked. And she was considering leaving her phone for her mom. Can I send her a cell phone that she will then use once she is in the US? What would people suggest?

What is this, 2005?

[pamawemo 78]

17 minutes ago, juggy_11 said:

What is this, 2005?

2019 last time I checked. But thanks for asking.