Frequently asked questions
How FlightSIM's flight tracking and data eSIM plans behave — before a trip, during it, and after you land.
What is FlightSIM?
Two tools in one app: a live flight tracker for departures, arrivals, gates and delays, and a prepaid data eSIM store covering 200+ destinations. Track a flight for free; buy a data plan when you need to stay online at the other end.
Where does the flight tracking data come from?
From public airline schedule and aircraft position data, aggregated across many sources. FlightSIM is not affiliated with any airline and does not receive a private feed from one — which is normal for a tracking app, and worth knowing because an update can occasionally lag a minute or two behind what the gate agent already knows.
Can I track a flight I'm not on?
Yes. Search any flight number or route and follow it — useful for picking someone up, or for keeping half an eye on a connecting flight while you are still on the first leg.
What alerts do I get?
Gate assignments and gate changes, delay and cancellation updates, and a heads-up as the flight approaches boarding and landing. Alerts are push notifications, so they arrive without opening the app.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into the phone as software. You install a plan by scanning a QR code instead of pushing a chip into a tray, and the plastic SIM you already have stays exactly where it is.
Does my phone support eSIM?
Most phones sold since 2018: iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and most current Android models. The phone also has to be carrier-unlocked. Our setup guides show where to check on your model.
When should I install the eSIM?
At home over Wi-Fi, a day or two before departure. Nothing starts running at that point: the clock begins when the eSIM first connects to a network at the destination. Installing early costs nothing and saves doing it on airport Wi-Fi with a queue behind you.
Do I keep my own number?
Yes. The eSIM is data-only, so your home line stays active for your number, your SMS codes and your messaging accounts. Point mobile data at the eSIM and leave the rest alone — it adds no new phone number of its own.
Do I have to take my physical SIM out?
No. Both lines run at once. The only setting that matters is which line carries mobile data: point it at the eSIM, and switch data roaming off on your home line so it cannot connect quietly in the background.
What if I run out of data?
Top up in the app. The data goes onto the eSIM already installed in your phone, so there is no second QR code and nothing to reinstall.
Can I use it as a hotspot?
Yes, tethering is included. One plan can carry a laptop, a tablet and everyone else in the taxi.
Do I need internet to install it?
Yes. The download itself needs Wi-Fi or a working connection, which is why you do it at home. Once installed, it activates on arrival with no connection of its own.
How does payment work, and can I get a refund?
Payment runs through the App Store or Google Play, so your card details never reach us. If an eSIM will not install or activate on a compatible phone, message support in the app and we will fix it, or refund it where that is the right answer.
Does flight tracking use the eSIM, or need it installed?
Neither. Tracking works over any connection — home Wi-Fi, your own SIM, airport Wi-Fi — and does not require the travel eSIM to be installed or switched on. The two features share an app, not a data connection.