Collaborating at 30,000 Feet: Reviewing Video Edits While Flying Over the Pacific

Pushing the Limits of In-Flight Connectivity

Here’s a crazy thing. I logged onto the free internet on an Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to Tokyo, expecting to do some basic messaging, emails, and light browsing. Out of curiosity, I decided to check the internet speed—and to my surprise, the download speed was way faster than I expected.

Which got me thinking: Could I actually review a video edit mid-flight?

A Bold Experiment: Video Collaboration via Satellite Internet

Before taking off, I had been waiting for the latest version of a video edit from my new editor. He’s incredibly talented, and I’m thrilled to have him as part of my small team. The thought struck me: if I could get a stable enough satellite connection and was okay with a low-resolution preview, I might actually be able to review the edit and leave timestamped feedback—all while flying over the Pacific.

At about three hours into the 11-hour flight, I decided to give it a shot. The internet connection had dropped a few times earlier, but it had been stable for a while, so I went for it.

And to my shock—and very pleasant surprise—it worked seamlessly.

A Game-Changing Moment for Remote Work

I reviewed Version 2 of my 15-minute, 52-second video, making a few minor comments—mostly positive feedback like, “This looks so good now—thank you!” My editor really is that good. I still can’t believe we’ve only been working together for less than a month.

After completing my review, I hit the submit button, and the editing platform responded exactly as it should have. No delays, no hiccups—just smooth, uninterrupted collaboration.

Giving Credit Where It’s Due

After this mind-blowing experience, I took a walk—well, as far as you can on a plane—and asked a flight attendant if Air New Zealand had recently upgraded their internet. She assumed I was about to complain about poor service.

"No, you misunderstand me," I said. "I know in-flight internet can be flaky. But this was astonishingly good!"

She seemed surprised by my praise. And honestly, I’ve been quite critical of Air New Zealand recently. But when credit is due, I believe in giving it. Many airlines charge for in-flight internet—Air New Zealand provides it free on some of their long-haul international flights.

Maybe today was a fluke, but if it was, it was a really good one.

A Win for Creators and Remote Teams

This experience also reinforced my appreciation for the BeCreatives platform, which enables seamless collaboration between editors and creators. The fact that I could review and submit video feedback mid-flight speaks volumes about both the tech infrastructure and the reliability of remote creative workflows.

So, kudos to Air New Zealand. And a big shout-out to my editor and the team at BeCreatives.

Who knew 30,000 feet was the perfect altitude for creative collaboration?