Airtel’s New Roaming Plans Offer Unlimited Data, Global Access & In-Flight Perks

Airtel has launched two new international roaming plans for its postpaid users in India, offering unlimited data and coverage in 189 countries. These plans are designed to make travel easier, with automatic activation as soon as you land abroad—no need to change your SIM card.

The two plans are priced at Rs. 2,999 (valid for 10 days) and Rs. 3,999 (valid for 30 days). Both come with 100 minutes of calling per day, including incoming and outgoing calls. One of the plans (Rs. 3,999) also gives in-flight connectivity, offering 100 outgoing call minutes, 100 free SMS, and 250MB of data while you're flying—valid for 24 hours.

These roaming plans are meant to provide a smooth travel experience, especially for frequent flyers and business travelers. Users can stay connected without switching SIMs, and enjoy consistent service even mid-air.

Airtel’s new offerings follow a similar move by Vi (Vodafone Idea), which recently introduced international roaming packs for both prepaid and postpaid users. Vi’s plans cover the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with validity options of 20 and 40 days.

With this launch, Airtel strengthens its position in the global roaming market by adding more flexibility, convenience, and perks for Indian users traveling abroad. Now, both prepaid and postpaid users can get international roaming (IR) packs starting at Rs 648, offering almost the same benefits. However, postpaid users get one extra perk — unlimited data at reduced speeds after using up their high-speed limit.

But there’s a downside for postpaid users: extra GST is added to their final bill, making it more expensive. In contrast, prepaid users pay a fixed price that already includes GST, so they end up paying less for similar benefits. Also, it's still unclear why telecom companies don’t offer better value to loyal postpaid users, who stay committed to their network.