Your Visa card comes with a free international data plan

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If you have a Visa Signature or Infinite card in your wallet — think the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture X, and dozens of others — you're likely sitting on a free international data plan you've never used.

It comes through GigSky, an eSIM marketplace that lets you buy a virtual SIM card for your phone before you travel abroad. That means no roaming fees, no hunting for Wi-Fi, no surprise charges from your U.S. carrier. And if you qualify, your first data package is completely free.

Especially if you don't have a phone plan with free international data, this can be a game-changer. Here's how it works.

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Visa powers some of the most popular credit cards, including many iconic travel cards from Chase and Capital One. You can check what type of Visa you have by looking at the text underneath the Visa logo on your card.

Many popular rewards cards have the Visa Signature distinction, while Visa Infinite cards include the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the United Club Card.

Visa and GigSky have a partnership that gives Visa Signature and Infinite cards the following amounts of free data and ongoing discounts:

• Visa Signature:
  • 1GB plan valid for 15 days, once per year
  • Unlimited 20% discount on all GigSky plans
• Visa Infinite:
  • 3GB plan valid for 15 days, once per year
  • Unlimited 30% discount on all GigSky plans

A handful of cards get an upgraded free plan:

• U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® card: 5GB plan valid for 15 days, 20% ongoing discount
• UBS Visa Infinite card: 5GB plan valid for 30 days, 30% ongoing discount
• Navy Federal Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards: 3GB plan valid for 15 days, 30% ongoing discount

All plans are valid in over 190 countries and work with any unlocked phone or tablet that supports eSIMs — which includes most modern iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

Turn flight delays into free lounge time

For about the cost of two airport cocktails, a Travelzoo Club membership gets you a year of members‑only travel deals, early access to Top 20 offers, and weekly vacation giveaways. Even better, if your registered flight is delayed, you and your companions can ​get access to over 1,600 airport lounges​ to wait out your delay with snacks, Wi‑Fi, and a comfy seat instead of a crowded gate.

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Redeeming your free GigSky data packages is very easy. First, download the GigSky iOS and Android app to your compatible device and create an account.

You don’t need a promo code; just look at the bottom of the app and tap the “Visa Benefits” button. Tap the “Check Eligibility” button at the center of the screen and enter your card number. The app then tells you which plan you’re eligible for, and you can choose to redeem it.

From there, GigSky will walk you through adding your free eSIM to your device and using it in place of your U.S. carrier’s data. Once you add the GigSky eSIM to your device, you can reload it and add data packages as you travel, even after you’ve used up your free Visa data.

Next time you're heading abroad, check your wallet before you do anything else — you may already have free data waiting for you.

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