A $103 Rogers Bill, a Hawaii Trip, and $348 in Savings She Can Still Capture

We spoke with a Rogers customer this week who's been paying $103/mo for two lines — month-to-month, no US or Mexico roaming included. She'd heard about the $25/mo 80GB CAN-US-MEX flash sale plans that Koodo and Fido were running in March and wanted to know if she'd missed her chance. She had. But the story doesn't end there.

She's also heading to Hawaii for 9 days next weekend. On her current Rogers plan, that trip will likely cost her $288 in roaming charges — $16/day per person, 9 days, two phones.

Technically, the CRTC's Wireless Code caps roaming at $100 per line per billing cycle without explicit consent. In practice, Rogers will notify her when she hits that threshold and ask if she wants to continue — and most people say yes because they need their phone. The realistic bill is $288.

What the March Window Would Have Meant

Had she switched to Koodo or Fido's $25/mo BYOD flash sale plan before March 31, the numbers would have looked like this:

• Two lines at $25/mo = $50/mo vs $103/mo = $53/mo saved
• CAN-US-MEX roaming included — Hawaii covered at no extra cost
• Plan savings alone over 2 years: $1,272
• Hawaii roaming avoided: $288
• Total over 2 years: ~$1,560

That window closed at midnight March 31. The $25/mo plans are gone. But up to $348 in savings is still available to her right now — and she has a few days to act before her flight.

What She Can Still Do Today

Koodo and Fido both offer 5G BYOD plans with Canada-U.S.-Mexico roaming included. Hawaii is a US destination — roaming is covered at no extra cost on either plan. All three flanker brands — Koodo, Fido, and Virgin Plus — now offer 5G, meaning a switch isn't just cheaper than Rogers, it may also be a network upgrade depending on what plan she's currently on.

Prices shown reflect autopay discount applied — Koodo saves $10/mo and Fido saves $5/mo with autopay enrollment.

Switching to either carrier before next weekend eliminates the Hawaii roaming bill entirely. The total saving in year one — plan difference plus $288 in roaming avoided — is $324 with Koodo or $348 with Fido.

Between the two, Koodo offers 80GB vs Fido's 60GB at the CAN-US-MEX tier — more data for $2 more per line per month. Fido saves $5/mo total but comes with less data. For most users, Koodo's extra 20GB per line is worth the $2.

Virgin Plus also offers 5G at $49/mo per line but doesn't include CAN-US-MEX roaming at this tier — meaning the Hawaii roaming charge still applies. For this specific situation, Koodo and Fido are the right options.

The Roaming Bill Is the Urgent Part

Even if she decides not to switch carriers right now, the Hawaii roaming charge is entirely avoidable with a travel eSIM. Here's what US eSIM plans cost on Cellulo versus what Rogers charges for the same trip:

The 10 Days Unlimited plan at $49/person is the cleanest option for a 9-day trip — full coverage with a day of buffer, no data cap to manage. Two plans total $98 versus $288 on Rogers. Saving: $190 on this trip alone.

If data usage is light — maps, messaging, occasional browsing — the 30 Days 10GB plan at $32/person covers the trip for just $64 total, saving $224.

Here's the full US eSIM pricing available on Cellulo for reference:

The eSIM installs in minutes and runs alongside her existing Rogers plan. Before landing, there's one important thing to understand about Rogers Roam Like Home: it's triggered by any outgoing activity — sending a text, answering a call, or using data. Incoming texts are free, but replying to one triggers the $16 daily fee. To eliminate any risk of roaming charges, Cellulo's advice is simple:

1. Turn your Rogers line off completely — go to your phone's cellular settings and turn the Rogers line off entirely before you land
2. Use your eSIM line for all data, calls, and messaging in Hawaii

With the Rogers line off, there is zero chance of triggering a roaming charge. For calls and messages, use your eSIM data connection — WhatsApp, FaceTime, and iMessage all work normally — your contacts can still reach you over data as long as you set them up before leaving home.

Need an OTP for a banking app or two-factor authentication? Turn your Rogers line back on briefly to receive the text, then turn it off again. Takes seconds.

Note: do not use Airplane Mode — it disables all cellular connections including your eSIM. Turn off the Rogers line specifically in your cellular settings. When you return to Canada, turn your Rogers line back on and everything returns to normal.

Browse US travel eSIM plans at cellulo.ca/travel/usa and get set up before you board.

The Bigger Picture

This isn't an unusual situation. Thousands of Canadians are on legacy Rogers, Bell, or Telus month-to-month plans — paying $45–$60 per line for plans that haven't been updated in years. The carriers have no incentive to call and offer them something cheaper. That's what Cellulo is for.

The March flash sale window is closed. The next comparable window — Q2 close — opens in late June. Between now and then, Koodo and Fido are the strongest available postpaid BYOD options for Canadians who want CAN-US-MEX roaming — both now on 5G.

If you're on a legacy Rogers, Bell, or Telus plan and haven't compared recently, compare now at cellulo.ca. The difference between your current bill and what's available today is probably larger than you think.