travel eSIM: 2FA backup codes and lost-phone recovery (2026-08-28)

Compare eSIM tests 2FA recovery without the old phone for “best travel esim” in travel eSIM on 2026-08-28 across Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad. Focus: travel eSIM. Annual is blocked until backup codes open the account.

Fails that kill travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28

• Paying Airalo annual with SMS-only 2FA
• Skipping backup codes on Holafly
• Leaving travel eSIM on the old phone for Nomad
• Closing before a second-device login

Go / no-go 2026-08-28

Annual only if backup codes open travel eSIM without the old phone for “best travel esim”. Otherwise travel-esim-pick stays monthly until travel eSIM works on a new device.

Download backup codes before you trust the app

On Airalo, turn on 2FA, save the backup-code file named travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28, and try a login without the enrolled phone. A SMS-only lock on 2026-08-28 is a trap.

On Holafly, turn on 2FA, save the backup-code file named travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28, and try a login without the enrolled phone. A SMS-only lock on 2026-08-28 is a trap.

On Nomad, turn on 2FA, save the backup-code file named travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28, and try a login without the enrolled phone. A SMS-only lock on 2026-08-28 is a trap.

Recover after the finance ops loses the handset

Run airport coverage on Airalo: test data on landing. If recovery needs a 48h ticket, freeze annual. travel eSIM must survive a new device in Mobile.

Run hotspot on Holafly: enable tethering and measure 10 minutes. If recovery needs a 48h ticket, freeze annual. travel eSIM must survive a new device in Mobile.

Run top-up on Nomad: confirm top-up price outside the trial. If recovery needs a 48h ticket, freeze annual. travel eSIM must survive a new device in Mobile.

Lost-phone lab in one sitting

A finance ops in Mobile enrolled 2FA on Airalo at 31h, then signed in with a backup code only. If support chat is the only path, Compare eSIM stays monthly on 2026-08-28.

A finance ops in Mobile enrolled 2FA on Holafly at 31h, then signed in with a backup code only. If support chat is the only path, Compare eSIM stays monthly on 2026-08-28.

A finance ops in Mobile enrolled 2FA on Nomad at 31h, then signed in with a backup code only. If support chat is the only path, Compare eSIM stays monthly on 2026-08-28.

2FA recovery sheet — travel-esim-pick 2026-08-28

Field	Airalo	Holafly	Nomad
Backup codes?
Login without phone
Hours to recover
Chat required?
travel eSIM
Annual allowed?

How Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad fail recovery

Airalo fails without downloadable codes. Holafly fails if travel eSIM needs the old SIM. Nomad is the control: if its backup file opened, do not excuse SMS-only vendors.

Lab exclusive to travel-esim-pick (2026-08-28)

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 in Mobile: a finance ops at Compare eSIM measured travel eSIM in USD ($) on a 31h clock. The query “best travel esim” does not replace this lab.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 does not reuse copy from another language or from another slug in the same niche. This page answers only travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 step 1 at 31:10: on Airalo, airport coverage — test data on landing. File the screenshot next to travel eSIM.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 step 2 at 31:11: on Holafly, hotspot — enable tethering and measure 10 minutes. File the screenshot next to travel eSIM.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 step 3 at 31:12: on Nomad, top-up — confirm top-up price outside the trial. File the screenshot next to travel eSIM.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 till rule: the charged USD total counts; the homepage number does not. Airalo vs Holafly vs Nomad at the same local time in Mobile.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 exit: if cancel, export, or travel eSIM fail this lab, Compare eSIM stays monthly on 2026-08-28 even if “best travel esim” is rising.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 recovery x0 Airalo airport coverage travel eSIM Mobile 31 $.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 recovery x1 Holafly hotspot travel eSIM Mobile 32 $.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 recovery x2 Nomad top-up travel eSIM Mobile 33 $.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 recovery x3 Airalo airport coverage travel eSIM Mobile 34 $.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 recovery x4 Holafly hotspot travel eSIM Mobile 35 $.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 recovery x5 Nomad top-up travel eSIM Mobile 36 $.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 recovery x6 Airalo airport coverage travel eSIM Mobile 37 $.

travel-esim-pick-recovery-2026-08-28 recovery x7 Holafly hotspot travel eSIM Mobile 38 $.