Can you use your cell phone while traveling to Hawaii?

[Trixiezzz]

We're planning on going to Hawaii this summer and it just hit me that I didn't know if we'd be able to make calls or use our data while over there. We have C-Spire wireless plans.

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks!

 

[chris31997]

Best course of action is to talk to C-Spire. I have never heard of them. But if they are national then it should work just fine.

 

[MAH4546]

Hawai'i is in the United States. If you have a nationwide data/voice plan, it includes Hawai'i. And Alaska and Puerto Rico for that matter.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

Verizon & Virgin Mobile... yes.

 

[wiigirl]

Hawai'i is in the United States. If you have a nationwide data/voice plan, it includes Hawai'i. And Alaska and Puerto Rico for that matter.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We've never been to HI but we have AT&T and had service in Alaska, St.Thomas & St. John. Most carriers show a map of non-roaming service areas on their website

 

[daughtersrus]

We're planning on going to Hawaii this summer and it just hit me that I didn't know if we'd be able to make calls or use our data while over there. We have C-Spire wireless plans.

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks!

We had US Cellular when we went to Oahu a few years ago. We were told that we would not be able to use Easy Edge (limited data plan) since they didn't have towers there but we were pleasantly surprised that we could. A week without email and Facebook would have been hard for my DDs

On a different note, we were surprised that they didn't have any Chase ATM machines (Make A Wish gave us a prepaid debit card from Chase) so we we would ask for cash back with just about every debit purchase.

 

[Lewisc]

OP asked about cell phone while traveling to Hawaii. I don't know how you'll be traveling to Hawaii. Your cell phone won't work on an airplane. Most cruise ships offer cell coverage. You'll be roaming on the ships tower. Not cheap.

Coverage in Hawaii is a different question. Of course a national plan will include Hawaii. It's been a state long before the invention of cell phones. Double check if you're using a prepaid plan. Prepaid plans don't normally roam, if your primary carrier doesn't offer coverage you may be out of luck.

 

[wnissen]

Looking at the C-Spire coverage maps, almost all of Hawaii is covered, even on the prepaid plan. The exceptions seem to be pretty mountainous, with the exception of one part on the north shore of Oahu. The big cities are all covered. It's exactly what you'd expect in a place that's more densely populated than 35 states! One phrase had to remind myself of was, "Back on the mainland..." because if you say, "Back in the states..." people can (understandably) get offended. Anyway, cell service is the same as back on the mainland.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

OP asked about cell phone while traveling to Hawaii. I don't know how you'll be traveling to Hawaii. Your cell phone won't work on an airplane. Most cruise ships offer cell coverage. You'll be roaming on the ships tower. Not cheap.

Coverage in Hawaii is a different question. Of course a national plan will include Hawaii. It's been a state long before the invention of cell phones. Double check if you're using a prepaid plan. Prepaid plans don't normally roam, if your primary carrier doesn't offer coverage you may be out of luck.

Cell phones work fine on an airplane; you just can't make calls (at least not in the US).

 

[Lewisc]

Cell phones work fine on an airplane; you just can't make calls (at least not in the US).

Right, the OP asked about using a phone for calls (and data). They won't be able to make cell calls or use cell data while in flight. Their plane might have WiFii.

People forget cell plans dropped regional coverage years ago. Most plans cover the entire US, including Alaska and Hawaii. Most of our plans don't include Mexico or Canada.

 

[JillyBean1899]

Hawai'i is in the United States. If you have a nationwide data/voice plan, it includes Hawai'i. And Alaska and Puerto Rico for that matter.

You'd be surprised how many people don't realize this. When I worked for a cell phone company I had to deal with a customer that had been told by another agent they needed both the international dialing and international roaming plans to be able to make or receive calls while in Hawai'i. I went and found that agent (they were in my chat center) and chewed them a new one ... and they still had the nerve to try to tell me that *I* was wrong, that Hawai'i isn't part of the US.

 

[bumbershoot]

I went and found that agent (they were in my chat center) and chewed them a new one ... and they still had the nerve to try to tell me that *I* was wrong, that Hawai'i isn't part of the US.

That's just painful. Good for you for following up with the rep, though!