Apple Watch with Cell Service & International Calling Charges?

I recently got an apple watch, and when I went to add it to my Verizon plan, I was informed there would be a $10 monthly fee. It’s like having an extra device added to your plan. So, I opted out of that. I would guess that if you had it on your account, you would need to notify your cell phone provider to have it removed.

The watch still does most things without being on my Verizon plan. I still get text messages, it tracks my steps and sleep, etc. I just can’t make a phone call on it. So, you don’t need it on your AT&T unless you have a specific need for it.

This article might help. It sounds like the only reason to pay to have it connected to a cellular plan is if you want to use the watch without your phone being in range. For example, if you go out for a walk and want to leave your phone at home.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204562

The phone and watch don't even have to be super close for the watch to work. I'm often downstairs and my phone is upstairs and i still receive text messages on the watch.

I’m not a technical expert (at all) but I have an Apple Watch 7. I don’t have the cellular model but can answer calls and texts. I think I can make calls from the watch too but haven’t tried it.

Carrie is exactly right. Learned this from my 16-year-old grandson and verified by T-Mobile. I took the 10.00 per month deal because I don't always have my phone in range. Meetings, yard work etc., etc.

I have an Apple Watch without cellular service and I can do just about anything with it, such as sending and receiving texts, answering phone calls, and so on. That said, the iPhone it is paired with must be within range.

But other than that, I've never seen a reason to get the cellular service (and I'm on my 3rd Apple watch).

FWIW, I've been using it this entire trip (except for making calls, because my eSIM data plan is only for data).

Mardee, I’m planning to get the $10 a day plan from Verizon but keep my phone in airplane mode unless I need to use it. I’m hoping this will prevent my Apple watch from receiving calls too. Is that correct? Thanks!

Periscope, thank you!

Esteemed colleagues, this thread got off-line, as the discussion drifted into the need for cell service on the Apple Watch-
But-
my original questions still hasn't been answered-
how to turn cell service off during an international trip, so as not to be charged a second international day fee, without it being a major hassle to turn back on. If you keep the watch in airplane mode the whole trip, there's no point in really having the watch with you, right?
Thanks for all of your ongoing efforts to help your fellow travelers!

Ok I get your concern so why don't you go straight to AT&T. It's their service so I am sure they are the ones with the answer. IMO

Sorry pat. 😊 I just wanted to make sure you and others knew that you don’t have to pay to have your watch added to your cell phone plan because the watch works without that extra expense. And then, if the watch is not on your plan, you don’t have to worry about being charged extra fees when traveling.

Since having the watch in airplane mode disables most of the features, that to me does not make sense. Take the watch off your cell plan and you can use like normal—receive texts, use apple wallet, track steps, etc.

I did go straight to AT&T, both before and after the trip, and the after was mind-numbing and time-consuming, and I was given conflicting info from AT&T. I was asking if others had the same experience, or if there were work-arounds to turning the service back on for the watch. The process for the watch is not as simple as just turning the cell service on/off for the I-phone.
Thx for trying!
PS
Altho not relevant to this discussion, I like having cell service on the watch so I don't need to take my cell to the gym, or when I'm walking two dogs at a time. If I would be injured on my dog walks, or have problems with coyotes or rattlesnakes , I can call for help/ my husband on my watch.

Pat, I don't know about the watch, but I know you can keep your ATT iPhone in airplane mode, and still have the wifi access on. So I used wifi at the hotel or other hotspots, but only turned cellular on a couple of days to make calls, thus incurring the $10/day charge only twice.

Mardee, I’m planning to get the $10 a day plan from Verizon but keep my phone in airplane mode unless I need to use it. I’m hoping this will prevent my Apple watch from receiving calls too. Is that correct? Thanks!

Donna, it should. Another thing you might do is turn on "Silence Unknown Callers" in the phone settings, so no spam rings through when you have airplane mode off. You can also keep your watch to airplane mode all the time (or set it to the Theatre settings, which won't be affected by your phone settings).

If you keep the watch in airplane mode the whole trip, there's no point in really having the watch with you, right?

Pat, I like having the watch with me because 1), I can check the time (and date) quickly; 2), I can keep track of my steps and mileage and fitness; and 3) I use it to set timers and alarms for train rides, closing hours, etc. But that's me. :) And I don't keep mine in airplane mode anyway. I got the Airalo eSIM data plan so I have cellular service through that. But I don't have phone calls or SMS text messages, so I wait to send Iphone messages when i'm in my hotel, and make phone calls on FaceTime audio or visual (yesterday, I had fun Facetiming my grandkids). :)

So if turning on airplane mode blocks cell service on the Apple Watch, why wasn't I given that advice when I called AT&T asking the question??????
One of the wonders of the universe........Thx for all of your help.