We’re putting giga’s data roaming service, Jetset giga Pass, to the test through a weekend trip in Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia!
If you haven’t heard, StarHub launched a no-contract SIM card under the giga brand in May 2019. While the no-contract SIM offers a great 25GB data per month with auto rollover of unused data, our travellers are still curious about one thing: How much is the data roaming service? How reliable is it? How do I get the Jetset giga Pass?
There’s only one way to find out, so I made a trip to JB after work on Friday. Yes, it’s the same JB trip that we left office early to test out YouTrip vs Revolut vs TransferWise! 😎
Here’s our review of giga’s data roaming service:
How many countries are supported?
There’s only one type of Jetset giga Pass and at SGD $5, it offers 1 GB for 5 days. These are the countries you can use the Jetset giga Pass in:
- Australia 🇦🇺
- China 🇨🇳
- Hong Kong 🇭🇰
- Indonesia 🇮🇩
- Japan 🇯🇵
- Macau 🇲🇴
- Malaysia 🇲🇾
- Myanmar 🇲🇲
- New Zealand 🇳🇿
- Philippines 🇵🇭
- South Korea 🇰🇷
- Taiwan 🇹🇼
- Thailand 🇹🇭
- Vietnam 🇻🇳
How to buy the Jetset giga Pass?
Getting the pass was pretty straightforward. The Jetset giga Pass was easily located under the Roaming tab in the giga app, where I track my data and calls usage.
Roaming > Jetset giga pass > Add 1 > Let’s roll! > Pay
I could pay for the pass with the credit or debit card that I’ve saved in the giga app, or I could also choose to input another card for payment.
The payment page also allowed me to key in a promo code for discounts or redemptions. And yes, I do have a special promo code for you to redeem a free Jetset Roaming Pass. YouTroopers are always blessed with #YouTripPerks!
How to activate the Jetset giga Pass?
Among other roaming data plans that I’ve used, the Jetset giga Pass was one of the most stress-free experiences. I could buy a Jetset giga Pass anytime and store it in my giga account, and it would activate automatically upon arriving in my holiday destination.
When I was crossing the Woodlands Checkpoint causeway, my Jetset giga Pass kicked in immediately and my Singapore network switched to a Malaysia network within seconds.
How to configure APN settings?
Like most roaming data, I had to check that my Access Point Name (APN) settings were correct. At first I thought APN settings were automatic, so while I was connected to Malaysia’s DiGi network, I wasn’t getting any data. Don’t make the same mistake as I did! Make sure you enter “giga” in your phone’s APN name settings.
Phone Settings > Data & Network > Mobile Network > Access Point Name > APN: giga
How stable is giga’s roaming data?
Throughout our JB trip, I was connected to a strong 4G network and didn’t encounter any disruptions to my data usage – just like how I’m using my data in Singapore. I could also track the amount of roaming data I’ve used in the giga app, in case I overrun my limit.
Overall, the Jetset giga Pass remains as one of my favourite data roaming options because it’s what I call “roaming for dummies” with its seamless and no frills giga app. Buy it, store it, and it’ll be automatically activated when you arrive in your holiday destination.
Is the Jetset giga Pass for me?
Unlike other carriers that require an activation fee (I’m looking at you, M1), I don’t feel a pinch whenever I purchase the Jetset giga Pass.
If you’re heading for a short holiday and want to stay connected on Telegram, WhatsApp, and other messaging apps, you can easily rely on the inexpensive Jetset giga Pass. I even did some light browsing on social media apps!
If you’re going on a longer holiday or require more data, here’s a list of the cheapest travel wifi routers we’ve compared for you.
And no matter which data roaming or travel wifi option you choose for your holidays, don’t forget to bring your YouTrip card to utilise YouTrip’s Wholesale Exchange Rates for favourable currency exchange rates!
Read: 4 Haunted Hotels in Asia & Their Horror Stories
Read: JB: How to Escape the Crowd (Weekend Itinerary Guide)
Read: What Can I (and Can’t) Take from Hotel Rooms?
Read: 5 Oldest Hotels in the World That You Can Stay In
Read: Budget Holiday Plans Gone Wrong
Enjoy a worldwide fees-less travel experience!
