Getting a US eSIM for the US Open in New York
You're flying into New York for the US Open [VERIFY: dates: 31 Aug–13 Sep 2026] and you need your phone to work — maps, rideshares, ticket apps, messaging. This page explains which MeiSIM plan makes sense, what a US number adds, and a few things that catch people off guard.
How long do you actually need data?
Most tennis fans are in New York for somewhere between four days and two weeks. That's the main thing to match against a plan.
- Short trip or light user: The 1000 MB · 7-day US plan at $2.81 covers a week and costs less than a coffee. Fine if you're mostly on Wi-Fi at the hotel and just need maps and messaging when you're out.
- One big day at Flushing Meadows: The Unlimited · 1-day US plan at $3.43 is worth considering if you'll be streaming, sharing video, or just don't want to think about it. You burn through 1 GB faster than you'd expect when you're posting from Arthur Ashe.
- Staying longer or using data freely: The USA 3 GB plan at $3.99 is the sweet spot for most people — more than double the 1 GB plan for fifty cents more. The USA 2 GB plan at $3.49 sits between them if 3 GB feels like overkill.
- Also travelling in Europe before or after: The Europe and USA 1 GB plan at $3.49 covers both regions from a single eSIM. That 1 GB is shared across both legs of your trip, so it suits lighter users only.
If you run low, the TopUp USA 2 GB ($3.49) and TopUp USA 3 GB ($3.99) add-ons top up the same eSIM without starting over.
Do you need a US phone number?
Probably not just for tennis. But if you need to receive SMS verification codes from your bank, from ticketing apps, or from any service that only trusts a US number, then yes — a data-only eSIM won't help with that.
MeiSIM sells real US phone numbers that run on AT&T and T-Mobile. Unlike the data eSIMs, these don't come with a QR code. Instead, you give us your phone's EID at checkout and the line is activated directly onto your device over the air. Your home SIM stays in the phone; the US number is a second line sitting alongside it.
One thing to know about timing: US carriers only activate lines during set hours. AT&T activates roughly 7:00 am–11:00 pm Central Time; T-Mobile roughly 5:00 am–1:00 am Central. If you place an order in the middle of the night, it will activate when the window reopens — not instantly. Plan around that if you need the number working the moment you land.
How activation works for the data eSIMs
After payment you get an email with a QR code, usually within a few minutes. Scan it in your phone's eSIM settings and activation takes about a minute. You can install it before you leave home — just don't switch it to active until you land in the US, otherwise you start burning the data or the day counter while you're still in your home country.
[VERIFY: confirm whether the 1-day unlimited plan's timer starts on activation or on first data use]
Your phone must be unlocked and eSIM-capable. Most flagship phones from the last three or four years qualify, but if you're on a carrier-locked handset or an older Android, check before you buy.
Paying
MeiSIM accepts card, PayPal, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and crypto — so payment shouldn't be a hurdle regardless of where you're coming from.
What this won't do
- A data eSIM does not give you a callable US number. You can use data-dependent apps like WhatsApp, but you can't receive SMS to a US number.
- The 7-day plan doesn't pause if you're on Wi-Fi — the seven days run from activation.
- These plans are for international visitors needing US coverage. If you're a US resident looking for a domestic plan, this isn't the right product.
- Coverage depends on the underlying carrier network. [VERIFY: which carrier(s) the data eSIMs run on] — worth confirming if you have a preference between AT&T and T-Mobile coverage in Queens.