A method to facilitate user equipment (UE) handoff within a packet data communication system includes determining, at a source relay node, that the UE is to undergo a handoff from the source relay node to a target entity and sending, by the source relay node, a first request to a network node serving the UE. The sending is performed responsive to the determination that the UE is to undergo the handoff, such that the first request is configured to cause the network gateway node to store packet data addressed to the UE. Further operations include sending, by the target entity, a second request to the network, such that the second request is configured to cause the network to forward the stored packet data to the target entity, and receiving, at the target entity from the network, the stored packet data for wirelessly transmitting to the UE.