Tap to Pay on iPhone is set to expand to in-flight purchases with a first-of-its-kind adoption from Alaska Airlines, the air carrier has announced in a recent press release.

Alaska Airlines is taking advantage of Apple’s latest payment solution, which effectively turns all compatible iPhones into contactless payment terminals without the need for any additional hardware. With Tap to Pay, travelers will be able to purchase any in-flight amenities including snacks, meals, and drinks by using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or any other contactless debit or credit card. Payments are processed through iPhones used by Alaska Airlines’ flight attendants for other errands like seating and pre-ordered meal deliveries.

Apple first announced Tap to Pay on iPhone in February 2022 in the United States as a feature that does away with clunky contactless payment terminals, making the iPhone a one-stop shop for most contactless payment needs. The feature has since expanded to other regions including Taiwan, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Brazil, Ukraine, and most recently France.

Tap to Pay is available on all iPhone models that support NFC, including the iPhone XS and later along with the iPhone 15 lineup. It is also compatible with all major contactless payment cards and mobile wallets, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

We’re constantly innovating to give our guests the most seamless and caring experience possible. We’re proud to partner with Stripe to be the first airline to bring Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone technology to flight.

Alaska Airlines SVP of Merchandising & Innovation Charu Jain

Alaska Airlines states that it is leveraging Stripe’s payment network to be the first airline to offer Tap to Pay, which is already rolling out on select flights with the goal of expanding it to all aircraft and destinations over the “next few months.”