Tap to Pay on iPhone

Taking Payments Without Internet

Accept tap payments even when the connection drops - then settle securely when you are back online.

Store and Forward concept: secure vault holding encrypted payments, then forwarding them when connectivity returns

Secure on-device vault

Each tap is locked into the iPhone's secure chip — the same protection used for Face ID.

Up to 24 hours offline

Store & Forward works for up to 24 hours without internet before the device must reconnect.

No double charges

Payments leave the vault only after the bank gives a definitive answer — never guessed.

Airline & retail ready

Built for cabin sales at altitude and busy checkout lines when the bank connection fails.

Offline payments

What is Store & Forward?

It's a feature of Tap to Pay on iPhone that lets an iPhone accept tap payments even when there's no internet connection. The phone safely holds each payment in a built-in secure area, then automatically sends them all through to the bank once the connection returns — without the sales associate having to do anything extra.
*Please note, offline transactions carry inherent risk.

  • Payments are held in a built-in secure area on the iPhone.
  • When connectivity returns, payments send to the bank automatically.
  • No extra steps for the sales associate when the connection comes back.
  • Designed so customers are not charged twice.
Flight attendants serving passengers in an airplane cabin aisle

Airline

Taking Payments at 35,000 Feet

Airline cabin sales during a mid-flight internet outage

The Situation

Flight attendants use iPhones with Tap to Pay on iPhone to sell food, drinks, and duty-free items during a flight. Over the ocean, the plane's internet connection cuts out completely — no signal for hours at a time. With Store & Forward, the iPhone keeps accepting tap payments the whole way through, without any interruption.
*Please note, offline transactions carry inherent risk.

How it works in the air

From the gate to landing — five steps that keep cabin sales moving.

  1. Before the plane leaves the gate

    The app quietly receives a 24-hour “offline pass” — permission to accept payments on its own without needing to check in with the bank for each transaction.

  2. Internet drops mid-flight

    The phone detects the lost connection and silently switches to “save now, send later” mode. The flight attendant sees no change — checkout keeps working exactly the same way.

  3. Customer taps their card

    The payment is immediately locked into a secure vault built into the iPhone's chip — the same chip that protects Face ID. The app never sees the actual card number, just a secure encrypted record of the transaction.

  4. The plane lands and reconnects

    The moment the iPhone picks up a cell signal at the airport, the app automatically starts sending all the saved payments to the bank — one by one, in the order they were taken. No one has to press anything.

  5. Each payment resolves and clears

    Once the bank approves or declines a payment, it's removed from the vault. The same payment cannot go through twice — it's cleared the moment the bank gives a definitive answer.

Retail associate helping customers at a busy checkout counter

Retail

Keeping the Line Moving When the Payment System Goes Down

Retail checkout during an upstream bank connection outage

The Situation

It's a busy day — peak hours, a full store, long checkout lines. Suddenly, the store's connection to the bank develops a problem. Normally that means slowing to a crawl or turning people away. With Store & Forward on Tap to Pay on iPhone, the store switches to offline mode and customers keep checking out.
*Please note, offline transactions carry inherent risk.

How it works at the register

From outage detection to settlement — six steps that keep the line moving.

  1. Problem detected

    The system notices the bank connection isn't working. A manager switches checkout into offline mode — it takes just a moment, and the store stays open.

  2. Customers keep tapping — nothing looks different

    From the customer's side, nothing changes. They tap their card, receive a confirmation, and they're on their way. No awkward waits, no apologies.

  3. Each payment saved in the secure vault

    Every tap goes straight into the device's secure chip — the same protection used for cabin sales. Card numbers are never stored openly on the phone or readable by anyone, including the app itself.

  4. Connection comes back

    The system automatically sends all saved payments through to the bank — one at a time, in order — without anyone needing to manually trigger anything.

  5. Each payment resolves and clears

    Approved payments clear. Declined payments also clear — both count as a definitive answer from the bank, so both are removed from the vault and fully settled.

  6. If a payment is ever uncertain

    If the bank didn't give a clear answer — say the connection dropped right in the middle of sending — the system holds that payment and flags it for a manager to review. It does not guess. The customer is never charged twice.

Peace of mind when connectivity drops

Store & Forward keeps checkout feeling normal for passengers and shoppers — while payments stay secure until they can settle.

Same protection as a normal tap

Offline taps are saved securely on the device with the same class of protection people already trust for everyday contactless payments.

Processes automatically

When the flight lands or the store reconnects, saved payments send through on their own — no awkward manual follow-up at the counter.

No double charges

Only definitive bank answers clear the vault. Anything uncertain is held for manager review first — never processed blindly.

*Built to keep lines moving

Offline transactions validate the card information but do not guarantee sufficient funds. Store & Forward does not guarantee that reconnected transactions will clear successfully.

Card data is stored, not authorized

In offline mode, no card authorization is performed. Only the card information is securely captured and held. Card acceptance and denial happens after reconnection.

Liability shift in offline mode

There is a liability shift with Store & Forward transactions. Merchants assume full financial liability for any payment that ultimately declines post-connection.

Account status is not checked

When the system reconnects and the issuing bank performs authorization, accounts can encounter insufficient funds or fraud blocks. The merchant is responsible for pursing collection.

Tap to Pay on iPhone

Ready to keep taking payments when connectivity drops?

See how Store & Forward fits your Tap to Pay on iPhone rollout - then talk with a MagTek specialist about next steps.