HONOLULU (KHON2) — In recent weeks, travel bloggers have been exploding with insights into secret compartments and other things that are located on airplanes.
Some can be used by passengers while others cannot. And most are mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
So, KHON2.com, with lots of intrigue, decided to find out what the kerfuffle is all about. We scoured the FAA website to find information.
Hidden handrails
Look beneath the overhead bins and you might see a narrow rail. Cabin crew use these rails to steady themselves when moving through turbulence, and passengers can use them too. They are not on every plane but are common on newer models.
Click here to read more about FAA safety policies.
Hidden armrest buttons
On some aisle seats, a small button near the hinge allows the armrest to lift. This makes it easier for people to enter or exit their row, especially if someone has reclined.
Regulations require armrests to be down during takeoff and landing. If the seat is in a row with no one else, movable armrests may also give passengers a chance to lie across the seats.
Click here and here for more information.
Holes in the windows
The tiny hole in airplane windows has a purpose. Airplane windows are made of three layers. The outside pane holds the pressure, while the middle pane contains the hole to balance pressure between layers where cabins are typically pressurized to the equivalent of 6,000 to 8,000 feet.
The inner pane at your seat. Well, that’s just for cosmetic purposes.
Hooks on the wings
Yellow hooks on some wings are part of emergency equipment. Ropes attach there to guide passengers across the wing during an evacuation.
This helps prevent falls during water landings or other situations when the surface is slippery.
Triangles above the windows
Small black triangles mark where crew members can view the wing at the correct angle. These markers let them quickly inspect for damage or other problems.
The marks are arranged in a deliberate way to match up with the designated section of the wing solely from the crew’s particular viewpoint.
Hidden lavatory locks
Airplane bathrooms can be locked from the inside, but flight attendants also have a special latch on the outside. This lets them open the door in an emergency or keep the bathroom closed during takeoff, landing or if it’s broken.
Sometimes they also lock it when pilots switch shifts, so the pilots don’t have to wait. If you ever have an emergency while inside, there’s a call button near the sink or seat that you can press to get help.
Click here and here to read more about these regulations.
Ashtrays
Even with a ban on smoking for more than 30 years, ashtrays remain on planes. But they’re not installed for actual use by passengers.
They are required for safety in case someone lights a cigarette, so there is a safe place to put it out instead of risking a fire in the trash.
Click here and here to read about these types of regulations.
Life-saving medical equipment
Some airplanes are required to have defibrillators, which are machines that can help during a heart emergency. Even when not required, many airlines carry them anyway.
They’re usually stored in the galley or overhead bins; and sometimes, they’re inside a locked medical kit.
Click here, here and here to read more about this regulation.
Fortified door
To keep flights safe, airplanes have strong cockpit doors. After the events of Sept. 11, 2001, many planes were required to install reinforced doors depending on the plane’s size, weight and type of flight.
These doors may look ordinary; but they’re actually made with tough, bulletproof materials to prevent break-ins to protect pilots and passengers.
Click here to read more about this requirement.
Secret sleeping quarters
Long-haul flights require rest, not just for passengers but also for the crew. Some aircraft contain hidden areas where flight attendants or pilots can sleep between duties. These spaces are usually tucked away and out of sight of passengers.
Click here to read more about it.
Hidden handcuffs
Handcuffs are allowed on flights for passengers in both carry on and checked luggage, and flight crews are stocked with their own.
The FAA reported more than 2,100 unruly passenger incidents in 2024 and just under 1,000 in the first half of 2025.
After the rise in misbehaving passengers in 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration made a zero-tolerance rule, and it starts right on the plane.
Crews may use restraint kits that include duct tape, zip ties or handcuffs if de-escalation fails. Offenders are often turned over to law enforcement after landing.
Click here to read more about the FAA mandated dangerous behavior toolkit.
There’s a whole world contained within airplanes from the pilots to the crew to the passenger experience.