Are you ready for a first-class ticket to some hilarious hoaxes? From vintage train spoofs to modern airline antics, transport organisations and media have a rich tradition of April Fools’ Day pranks.
Here are 25 of the best – spanning rail, road, air, and sea – each one a clever (and confirmed) gag that had travellers double-checking the calendar. Enjoy this light-hearted yet professional journey through pranks that moved us, literally and figuratively.
Triple-Decker City Bus Takes Berlin (1926, Revived 2013)
The accompanying photo in a newspaper article showed a towering bus with three levels of passengers – a marvel in public transit capacity.
Of course, it was pure fabrication for April 1st. The magazine (published by tyre manufacturer Continental AG) had expertly doctored a double-decker bus image to add an extra deck, fooling many Berliners at the time.
The prank was so memorable that it earned a place in hoax history as an early classic of transport trickery. Fast-forward to 2013, and the legend rolled on.
National Express West Midlands decided to “rehash” the triple-decker idea for modern audiences, announcing it was adding triple-decker buses to its fleet in Birmingham. The company even cited a fictional engineer, “Olaf Prilo” (an anagram of “April Fool”), in its press release and shared images of the bus that humorously exceeded local bridge height limits.
Enthusiasts got the joke – a nod to an 87-year-old prank – and the transit fans chuckled.
National Express later revealed “teething problems” with the new triple-deckers on social media, confirming the ruse. This double-decker deception (times three) demonstrates how a well-crafted transit tall tale can endure through the decades.
Paris Metro’s Fishy Makeover (1994 & 2016)
Leave it to the French to infuse April 1st with culinary flair. In 1994, the Paris transport authority RATP celebrated Poisson d’Avril (“April Fish”) by giving the city’s Metro a whimsical, aquatic twist.
For one day, ticket validation machines stamped a tiny fish symbol on riders’ tickets– a literal stamp of the season’s humour. Even some station names got temporary makeovers: Parmentier station became “Pomme de Terre” (potato), Madeleine turned into “Marcel Proust,” and Reuilly–Diderot was renamed “Les Religieuses” (after a type of pastry).
Commuters at these stations were treated to free potato chips, madeleine cakes, and religieuse éclairs handed out by grinning staff, fully committing to the theme.
The stunt paid homage to France’s April 1 tradition of sticking paper fish on unsuspecting backs – and it was such a hit that RATP revived the idea in 2016.
That year, 13 Metro stations were humorously renamed in a similar fashion, each punny change announced with cheeky signage and even a lighthearted YouTube video.
The 2016 edition saw classics like Opera becoming “Apéro” and Télégraphe becoming “#Tweet”, delighting a new generation of riders. Both in 1994 and in 2016, Paris’s transport bosses proved they could laugh at themselves and brighten commuters’ days – no actual fishy business required beyond the paper kind.
Stockholm’s Flying Streetcars (1950)
Mid-century Swedes saw a surreal transit future on April 1, 1950, when a Stockholm newspaper published a startling photo: city streetcars soaring through the skies.
The clever photomontage image depicted trams detached from their tracks and floating above downtown as if public transit had sprouted wings. It was an eye-catching prank that captured post-war imaginings of futuristic travel.
The caption assured readers this was an April Fools’ joke, but not before some did a double-take.
The “flying streetcar” photo was so well-crafted that it has been remembered as one of Sweden’s famous April Fools’ hoaxes. Pressens Bild (a Swedish photo agency) created the montage, and the prank played on both the optimism for advanced technology and the inherent absurdity of airborne trolleys.
Later retrospectives claim that it “illustrated flying streetcars taking to the skies of central Stockholm” and never happened in reality.
In an era long before Photoshop, this stunt required true artistry in the darkroom. The legacy? A humorous reminder that rapid transit can’t defy gravity – except in the imagination on April 1st.
Norway’s Underground Super-Train (2004)
In 2004, the Norwegian tourism board engineered a prank that took the Scandinavian rivalry to new depths – literally.
They announced a futuristic project called “Scandinavian Earthlines,” an underground super-train linking Norway and Sweden at incredible speeds. Swedish newspapers carried glossy ads unveiling this marvel: a high-speed tube that could whisk travellers from Stockholm to Norway’s remote Lofoten islands in under an hour.
The public was invited to call a number for more information and bookings.
The prospect of a transnational subway had Swedes buzzing – was Norway really beating them to the punch in rail innovation? Those who dialled the hotline got the punchline. A friendly voice revealed the train was an April Fools’ fiction, then smoothly segued into a genuine pitch: why not visit Norway the usual way?
The stunt brilliantly blended prank and promotion. Norwegians got a laugh at their neighbours’ expense (all in good fun), and the tourism bureau got to highlight Norway’s appeal.
“Norway pulled a good one on Sweden,” one travel writer later chuckled.
The fake Scandinavian Earthlines remains a textbook example of an official organization using prankster creativity to draw attention – and perhaps entice a few more real-world tourists across the border.
Copenhagen’s Subway Bursts Above Ground (2001)
April 1, 2001, gave Copenhagen commuters a jolt and a laugh thanks to a dramatic public stunt.
An old subway car appeared to have burst up through the pavement in the middle of a city square as if a train had taken a wrong turn to the surface.
The sight of a half-emerged metro car, surrounded by rubble and wide-eyed onlookers, was startling – but the explanation was brewing nearby. It turned out to be an elaborate advertisement sponsored by Gevalia Coffee, playing on the idea that a strong cup of joe could really get you going!
The stunt was meticulously executed: the subway car was a retired carriage brought in from Stockholm’s transit system. Placed at an angle amid fake concrete debris, it looked uncannily accurate to passersby.
As people gathered, perhaps worrying about Copenhagen’s new Metro (which was under construction then), they were soon let in on the gag.
Large banners revealed Gevalia’s logo, tying the scene to a marketing prank rather than a transit disaster.
Media outlets worldwide shared photos of the “subway to nowhere,” enjoying the blend of shock and humour. It was not something you’d expect to see on a typical day, but it was just the ticket as an April Fools’ spectacle.
Toronto’s Private Subway Car Service (2013)
Torontonians woke on April 1, 2013, to exciting news from the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission): a new “Personal Car” service would offer subway riders the luxury of their private subway car.
Finally, commuters could do everything typically frowned upon in public – eat messy meals, play music, even clip their nails – without bothering anyone.
In a tongue-in-cheek video, TTC executives Brad Ross and Chris Upfold demonstrated the bliss of this personal space. They sprawled across seats, munching fried chicken and trimming nails, explaining with straight faces that one car would be set aside on each train for individual indulgence.
The spoof video was a pitch-perfect corporate parody. “This is an inspiring initiative… a car where people can do anything they want,” the TTC’s fake announcement proclaimed.
Only at the end did the duo grin and admit the program would last only until noon – the classic April Fools’ reveal. The TTC used the prank to humorously remind riders of transit etiquette (by showing exactly what not to do) while generating plenty of laughs.
Local media, like Global News, noted the TTC was playfully encouraging people to be considerate – after pulling our leg about a paradise car with no rules.
The result was a viral hit, proving public transit and a sense of humour can ride together.
Calgary’s Nap Rooms on Buses (2016)
In 2016, Calgary Transit decided to comfort its weary riders with a dream of an April Fools’ service: “Bed-equipped buses” for napping. On April 1, the agency announced select city buses would feature cosy sleeping berths, allowing commuters to snooze in transit and wake up refreshed at their destination.
A promotional image showed a blissful rider tucked under a duvet in a specially modified bus interior, with pillows and drawn privacy curtains. “Catch some Z’s on the zzz-Bus!” the campaign touted (with a wink).
The prank tapped into a universal commuter wish. Who hasn’t felt drowsy on the ride home and longed to lie down? Calgary Transit played it straight enough that a few hopeful riders asked when the nap buses would start running.
The transit agency then gently let everyone down: it was just an April Fools’ joke.
Media like Global News caught on and shared the spoof, noting, “Calgary Transit introduces beds on city buses for riders to take a nap – I wish this was true!”.
The good-natured hoax earned Calgary Transit some chuckles and goodwill. It’s a light-hearted reminder that transit agencies understand rider woes… and if they can’t solve them, they can at least joke about them once a year.
BMW’s Free Car for a Daring Fool (New Zealand, 2015)
On April Fools’ Day in 2015, BMW turned the tables with a prank so gutsy it came true.
In Auckland, New Zealand, BMW took out a full-page newspaper ad on April 1 promising a brand-new BMW to the first person who brought their old car to a specific dealership that morning.
“April Fools’ Day Special,” the ad proclaimed – sounding too good to be true. Most readers dismissed it as a classic prank. But one woman, Tianna Marsh, decided to risk looking foolish and showed up at BMW Newmarket at dawn, ad clutched in hand. It paid off in spades.
She was greeted with applause and promptly handed the keys to a $50,000 BMW for her trouble.
Her 15-year-old Nissan trade-in was ceremoniously swapped for a sleek BMW 1 Series.
BMW’s campaign dubbed the “world’s first reverse April Fool’s joke” was a brilliant double-bluff – by making an unbelievable offer on April 1, they ensured only a truly bold (or sceptical) customer would take it seriously. Marsh did, and she drove away in a new car, no joke.
“The carmaker said it was keeping alive a tradition of April 1 pranks with its front-page ad…
The ‘April Fools’ Day special’ promised a new BMW to the first person who took their car and the coupon to the dealership,” reported the NZ Herald, who covered the story extensively.
Unlike many pranks, this one ended with smiles and one very happy “fool” who got the last laugh.
Virgin Atlantic’s Glass-Bottom Plane (2013)
When Sir Richard Branson blogs about a breakthrough aviation feature on April 1, brace yourself.
In 2013, Branson announced that Virgin Atlantic would debut the world’s first glass-bottomed plane, giving fliers a stunning view straight down to earth from 30,000 feet.
The proposal was tied to the launch of Virgin’s domestic UK service (cheekily named “Little Red”), which would connect London to Scotland. What better way to appreciate Britain’s beauty than through a transparent floor at altitude?
A glossy mock-up image accompanied the post, showing passengers gazing in wonder (and perhaps vertigo) at the landscape below. The media had a field day. The Daily Mirror and other papers reported the claim and even fooled China’s CCTV news, which ran it as a straight story.
Aviation forums lit up with debates on feasibility (“Would you dare to fly in a glass-floored jet?!”). Of course, Virgin’s blog eventually revealed it was all in jest – an April Fools’ promotion as playful as the airline’s brand.
“Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson used his blog to run an April Fools Day picture of a ‘glass bottom plane’ to promote the start of Little Red,” noted Travel Weekly in its post-mortem.
Despite being a prank, it captured our imaginations – perhaps because a tiny part of us wished it were real.
Branson later enjoyed the laughs, quipping that Virgin would keep offering great views (from the side windows at least) while a see-through plane isn’t happening.
WestJet’s Furry Family Flights (2013)
Canadian carrier WestJet went to the dogs (and cats, and more) with its 2013 April Fools’ video announcing the new “Furry Family” program. The spoof policy: all pets, regardless of species or size, would now be allowed to freely roam the aeroplane cabin during the flight.
In the hilarious video, WestJet demonstrated how everything from dogs and cats to birds, reptiles, and even farm animals could fly comfortably alongside human passengers.
Scenes included a contented miniature pony in the aisle, a llama peeking over a seatback, and a sizeable pot-bellied pig fed peanuts by a flight attendant.
“They’re part of the family, so why not in the cabin?” a straight-faced WestJet executive (VP Richard Bartram) explains as he stands next to a black bear casually using the aeroplane lavatory.
Travelers roared with laughter, and the video quickly went viral. HuffPost Canada noted that WestJet’s faux policy would let any animal “roam, graze, slither, crawl or fly at their leisure inside a plane’s cabin,” with no kennel required.
The piece even joked that this was a logical next step since the airline’s crew had “received special in-flight training on caring for the diverse family members” on board.
Of course, the entire concept was a prank – “almost too good to be true,” as HuffPost winked.
WestJet had a track record of April 1 creativity (the year prior, they did “Kargo Kids” – shipping kids in cargo compartments).
The Furry Family campaign not only entertained but subtly highlighted WestJet’s pet-friendly real policies. Don’t expect a bear in 12B on your next flight – this remains a paws-itively funny tall tale.
Qantas “Adds U” to Its Name (2015)
If you can’t spot what’s unusual about “Qantus Airlines,” you’re not alone – and that was the crux of Qantas’s 2015 April Fools’ prank.
The Australian flag carrier announced a corporate rebranding to fix a long-standing “spelling error” in its name: they would finally add a missing “U” after the “Q” in Qantas.
The tongue-in-cheek press release claimed this was to acknowledge all the airline’s passengers worldwide. New paint was supposedly being applied to aircraft that day, changing the iconic red tail logo to read “QUANTAS.” The frequent flyer program was to be updated from Q Tags to “U Tags” to match.
Travel outlets were amused; after all, Qantas is an acronym (for “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services”) and has never had a “U”. The prank played on the common misspelling by non-Aussies who assume “Quantas” is correct.
Condé Nast Traveler summarized the gag: “QANTAS rebrands to add ‘U’ to name… finally fixing the spelling to acknowledge all of [the airline’s] passengers.”.
Social media got a kick out of mock-up images of a QUANTAS jet.
By day’s end, Qantas (no U) admitted the joke. They didn’t repaint any planes – it was all digital trickery and good humour.
The fake change prompted one genuine action: many learned the real story behind the Qantas name. Sometimes, the best corporate pranks also educate, and Qantas managed to do it with a wink and a “U.”
Virgin “Moves” to Branson, Missouri (2015)
Sir Richard Branson couldn’t resist an April Fools’ nod to his namesake city. In 2015, Virgin Group issued a press release claiming Richard Branson was relocating Virgin’s global headquarters to Branson, Missouri.
The elaborate joke outlined plans beyond a simple office move: a new luxury Virgin Hotel in Branson, a “Virgin Limited Edition” ranch resort offering wagon trail adventures, and even Virgin America flights from major hubs to Branson’s local airport.
It read like a travel entrepreneur’s wild western fantasy.
The cherry on top: Use promo code “BRANSON” for 10% off Virgin America flights. The airline actually honoured this offer during the promotion period, blurring the lines between a prank and the real deal.
The story was pitch-perfect, playing off the coincidence of Branson’s last name and the Americana charm of Branson, MO.
Local tourism boards were presumably in on the joke, and travel media ate it up. “Virgin moves to Branson, Missouri,” declared Condé Nast Traveler, detailing the tongue-in-cheek announcement with Missourians briefly thinking they’d struck corporate gold.
Of course, it was all fun – Virgin’s HQ stayed firmly in London. But the prank generated buzz for both Virgin and Branson, MO.
In a meta twist, Virgin America offered that limited discount code as a treat for those who were on the joke. By combining a prank narrative with a real incentive, Richard Branson once again proved himself a master of publicity stunts – leaving us wondering what “Sir Richard” will dream up next.
The BMW M3 Pickup that Fooled the Car World (2011)
On April 1, 2011, BMW unveiled what looked like a one-of-a-kind BMW M3 pickup truck – a high-performance luxury ute – and car enthusiasts didn’t know what to think. It wasn’t just a rendering or a press release; BMW actually built the thing and drove it around Germany’s Nürburgring track under camouflage.
Spy photos quickly circulated, and automotive media went into a frenzy over this bizarre M3 variant. Was BMW really making a 420-horsepower sports pickup as a production model? The answer came on April Fools’ Day: nein. It was a prank executed by BMW’s engineers, who had literally taken an angle grinder to an M3 and “Frankensteined it into a ute” for fun.
BMW confirmed the pickup was just a tongue-in-cheek project, not destined for dealerships. By then, however, they had already succeeded in punking the auto press. Many had been “flooded with requests asking if it really was making the high-performance ute,” showing how convincing the stunt had been.
As CarsGuide noted, “if there’s such a thing as a good April Fools’ Day joke then this is it – a BMW M3 ute”. The vehicle was fully functional (some employees even used it as a shop runabout later), but BMW assured everyone it was a one-off lark. This legendary prank stands out because the company went the extra mile – actually producing the prank in metal and rubber. It remains one of the auto industry’s favourite April Fools’ memories, blending German engineering with a hearty laugh.
MINI’s Amphibious “Yachtsman” Car (2012)
MINI is known for its cheeky personality, and on April 1, 2012, the automaker floated an idea that made a splash – literally.
They announced the MINI Cooper Yachtsman, an amphibious car-boat designed for those who consider 70% of the earth covered by water their home turf.
To add credibility, MINI scheduled the “world premiere” of the Yachtsman to coincide with the New York International Auto Show, even claiming it would be moored on the Hudson River beside the show venue.
The press release was a tour de force of nautical puns and whimsical detail: the Yachtsman would have shark-resistant undercoating, a top speed of 61 knots at sea, a propeller drive, and an “incomprehensible warranty” including free barnacle removal.
Quotes from MINI execs sealed the deal. The fictitious VP of MINI USA bragged that the Yachtsman would evoke “land/sea envy” and came “originally endorsed by the British Royal Navy”.
Readers were invited to imagine downshifting and hitting the water whenever someone yelled, “Lake!”.
It was equal parts absurd and on-brand. Automotive outlets played along – after all, an amphibious MINI on sale for $236,000 with a periscope option screamed April Fools.
Attendees at the auto show searched vain for the floating MINI, only to learn the joke.
MINI created one of the more elaborate car pranks by committing to the bit with a formal launch announcement. And while the Cooper Yachtsman never set sail, it buoyed MINI’s reputation for irreverent marketing. Sources: MotoringFile (MINI)
Google’s Self-Driving Bicycle (2016)
Tech titan Google has a history of April Fools’ whimsy, and one of its most acclaimed came in 2016 with the introduction of the Google Self-Driving Bicycle in the Netherlands.
In a polished video, Google Netherlands unveiled an AI-powered bike that could balance itself, navigate the streets of Amsterdam, and even ferry kids to school with no rider at the handlebars.
The concept played off Google’s real advances in self-driving cars, transposing them onto the Netherlands’ most beloved transport mode.
The video showed a bicyclist hopping off and the bike continuing down a path on its own, as well as a rider peacefully reading a newspaper while the bike handled the commute.
The spoof was so well-produced that it “continues to confuse viewers long after the event,” according to Snopes, which had to debunk viral clips of the self-riding bicycle in subsequent years. Time Magazine even dubbed it one of 2016’s best April Fools’ pranks for its creativity and execution.
In the Netherlands, the video reportedly reached over 10 million people, a huge audience for a local joke.
Of course, Google admitted it was just having a bit of fun – no autonomous bike was hitting the market. But given the rapid pace of tech, some wondered if it was a prank or a preview of the future. (To date, no fully self-driving bike exists, so this remains firmly in prank territory.)
The Google Bike gag shows how a clever idea rooted in a culture’s norms (the Dutch and their bikes) can capture the global imagination on April 1.
Smithsonian’s Invisible Jet Exhibit (2015)
Even museums join the April Fools’ fun! On April 1, 2015, Washington, D.C.’s famed Smithsonian Air and Space Museum delighted comic book fans by “revealing” a special one-day exhibit: Wonder Woman’s invisible jet.
The museum announced that the Amazonian superhero’s transparent plane would be displayed in the main hall, free for the public to marvel at.
Visitors who showed up found an empty exhibit space roped off, with only an information plaque indicating the presence of the jet. Museum staff played along, gesturing to the supposed aircraft’s outline and encouraging people to snap photos of (and with) the “invisible” plane.
The prank was a clever crossover of pop culture and aeronautics.
The Smithsonian’s social media posts about the invisible jet garnered thousands of shares. Condé Nast Traveler gave it a shout-out in their roundup: “Wonder Woman’s invisible jet on display:
The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is home to this extra special, one-day-only exhibit of Wonder Woman’s chief mode of transportation”.
Many applauded the museum for its geeky sense of humour – a perfect nod to the fact that, aside from real spacecraft, the Smithsonian can house a bit of comic lore, too.
At day’s end, the “exhibit” was, unsurprisingly, removed. While some kids were slightly disappointed they couldn’t see a superhero jet, most visitors left with a smile, appreciating that even serious institutions can pull a good prank.
The invisible jet caper is now the stuff of April Fools’ legend, proving that sometimes the best exhibits are those left to the imagination. Sources: Condé Nast Traveler.
Amtrak’s “Emotional Baggage” Car (2024)
America’s railroad, Amtrak, showed its witty side on April 1, 2024, by addressing a type of baggage not often covered in transit – the emotional kind.
On Twitter and Facebook, Amtrak introduced the “Emotional Baggage Car,” a special train carriage for all the emotional baggage travellers carry.
“Tag a friend who needs a lift – we can handle it,” the post joked, alongside an image of a gleaming baggage car emblazoned with a heart.
The implication: Amtrak was ready to haul your sorrows and stress away so you could ride unburdened. The internet loved it.
Thousands of users did tag friends, spouses, and coworkers with comments like “All aboard the feels express!” Transportation reporters noted Amtrak’s deft social media work.
One news outlet summarized, “Major infrastructure improvements aren’t all new with Amtrak, according to the passenger railroad’s April Fools’ Day post… ‘Introducing the Amtrak Emotional Baggage car. Tag a friend who needs a lift — we can handle it,’” quoting the playful tweet.
Coming from a company usually focused on serious matters of timetables and funding, this light-hearted joke was a welcome surprise.
It also carried a subtle, positive message about supporting one another. Of course, no actual “therapy car” was added to trains, but the viral post gave Amtrak some modern, relatable flair.
In an age when corporate humour can be hit or miss, Amtrak’s emotional baggage gag was first-class.
JetBlue’s Pizza Slice Shuttle in NYC (2022)
JetBlue Airways cooked up a very New York April Fools’ joke in 2022 by promising to solve the city’s crosstown traffic woes.
The airline announced the “Queens Express” – a short-haul flight service from JFK Airport in Queens to… LaGuardia Airport, also in Queens.
The twist: this imaginary route would hop just a few miles across the borough, helping New Yorkers skip the notorious road congestion between the two airports. “Street traffic? Subway delays? Fuggedaboudit,” JetBlue quipped on its website, in a perfect NYC accent.
They claimed the Queens Express would whisk travellers from Jamaica (near JFK) to Jackson Heights (near LGA) in minutes, with in-flight amenities like locally sourced pizza.
The absurdity of an aeroplane hopping between two airports only 10 miles apart was not lost on anyone – which made it all the more delightful.
The Points Guy travel site called out JetBlue for “breaking some hearts” with the fake product launch since a few harried commuters wished it were real.
JetBlue’s prank press release played it straight enough that some media almost took it seriously before the April 1 date sunk in. For flavour, JetBlue even adopted the New York tone (“Fuhgeddaboudit!” they wrote).
Ultimately, the Queens Express stayed fictional – the traffic between JFK and LGA remains something even JetBlue can’t fix. But for one day, the airline gave New Yorkers a chuckle at the idea of turning a dreaded cab ride into a tongue-in-cheek “flight.” Sometimes, the only way to deal with city gridlock is to laugh about it.
Finnair Hires Santa as a Pilot (2022)
Finland’s flag carrier Finnair has long been associated with Santa Claus (they market flights to Lapland, Santa’s home), but in 2022, they went a step further: announcing that Santa himself had joined Finnair’s pilot roster.
In an April 1 press release brimming with holiday cheer, Finnair claimed that Santa Claus was realising a childhood dream of becoming a commercial pilot and would start co-piloting their Airbus A350s on long-haul routes.
“He is especially eager to fly to warm and sunny beach destinations, as it’s been a long dark winter in Lapland,” the faux announcement noted, tongue firmly in cheek.
They even teased that Santa hoped to get the popular Mars route on his roster – referencing Finnair’s successful April Fool from the year prior about launching flights to Mars.
Travel news sites loved the whimsical crossover. The Points Guy highlighted Finnair’s statement that “Santa also hopes to get the popular Mars destination on his roster… since it’s one of the few places he has yet to visit.”
That little callback made aviation aficionados smile. While no one truly expected to see Santa in the cockpit (imagine the red suit in a pilot’s seat!), the prank reinforced Finnair’s branding tied to Christmas magic.
Finnair has collaborations with Santa – every year, their “Santa Flights” carry holiday mail – so this prank felt almost plausible in spirit.
Ultimately, the airline fessed up, and Santa returned to the North Pole (or did he?). It was a charming reminder for Finnair customers that even serious airlines can indulge in fairytales occasionally.
Birmingham New Street’s Platform Slides (2022)
Britain’s bustling Birmingham New Street Station gave its followers a smile in 2022 by proposing an innovative way to get to platforms: slides instead of stairs.
On April 1, Network Rail (which manages the station) unveiled “plans” for metal slides spiralling from the main concourse down to each platform, promising a fun and fast commute enhancement.
A mock announcement on Twitter even included concept art of these curly slides alongside escalators. “We hope passengers understand the reasoning behind our change… It’s time to embrace our new chapter,” the station’s account tweeted slyly before cheekily noting the station might as well rename itself “Birmingham Old Street” (since, after all, New Street has been around since 1296!).
The public reaction ranged from amused (“I’d come to the station early to try the slide!”) to playfully concerned (“How do we get back up? Climb?”).
Network Rail’s official media release the same day confirmed the hoax, stating, “If you clicked excitedly to find out more, unfortunately, metal slides won’t be a feature… standard stairs, lifts and escalators will continue”.
They reminded everyone it wasn’t the first April Fools’ prank at New Street – in 2021, they had pretended to rename it “Old Street” to reflect history.
The consistency of these pranks has made the station’s April 1 posts something of a tradition. Importantly, the joke also served a subtle purpose: it directed attention to the station’s social media and services (with a nudge to follow their account for real updates).
All in all, Birmingham’s platform slides gag slid smoothly into that year’s roster of light-hearted transit tomfoolery, proving even infrastructure can have a sense of humour.
National Express’s Canal Boat Bus (2017)
Not to be outdone by rail and air, the UK bus industry has its share of pranksters. In 2017, National Express West Midlands announced the launch of a peculiar hybrid vehicle: a drive-on/drive-off single-decker bus that could sail on canals.
Branded as the new “Canal Bus” service, it boasted the ability to ferry 50 passengers through Birmingham’s historic canal network, avoiding road traffic altogether.
The press release gleefully included the word “dirigible” to describe the technology, stating the canal bus only used energy for propulsion (no wheels needed) and was whisper-quiet and eco-friendly.
They claimed that all regular bus tickets would be valid on this amphibious during an initial trial. The pièce de résistance was the quote from Chief Envisioning Engineer Olaf Prilo, whose name, astute readers noticed, is an anagram of “April Fool. “
The West Midlands is blessed with more canals than Venice,” Prilo noted, explaining the inspiration. “We thought we could combine the two to get commuters to work more quickly… our new canal bus is a dirigible.”
The elaborate jest, reported on transport blogs, earned kudos for creativity. Locals chuckled at the mental image of a bright red National Express bus chugging down the water alongside narrowboats.
Transport Designed magazine commented that the entry “should win the day purely for shoehorning the word ‘dirigible’” and the sheer novelty of a canal bus concept.
Of course, it was purely hypothetical – no such vehicle was built. But it highlighted Birmingham’s real geography (yes, more canals than Venice) in a memorable way.
This prank shows bus companies can dream just as big – or oddly – as anyone on April 1.
Stanley Travel’s Emoji License Plates (2017)
Sometimes, the simplest pranks are the most on-point. On April 1, 2017, a small UK coach operator, Stanley Travel, announced via Twitter that it was among the first to trial the UK’s new emoji license plates.
They shared an image of a vehicle number plate composed not of letters and numbers but popular emoji symbols – think smiley faces, hearts, and thumbs-up icons. “🚍🔣😃,” in effect.
Coming at a time when emoji were (and still are) a cultural phenomenon, it was a cheeky claim that felt almost plausible. After all, if the Oxford Dictionary can name an emoji the Word of the Year, why couldn’t the DVLA consider 😂 as an identifier?
The tweet quickly garnered likes and retweets, with reactions ranging from “Sign me up for a 😂 on my car!” to amused scepticism. Industry publication Transport Designed praised it as “an inspired bit of tomfoolery, simple in execution but genius in idea,” noting it stole the day for being so topical.
Indeed, emoji plates tapped into a current trend and even sparked debate about what future plates might look like. Of course, it was purely a prank – the UK had (and still has) no such scheme. But interestingly, later in 2019, Queensland in Australia actually introduced optional emojis on vanity plates (no joke!).
Perhaps the truth is catching up with humour. Stanley Travel’s quick viral joke shows that even a modest regional bus company can win April Fools with a clever tweet and a finger on the pulse of pop culture.
Moscow’s “Second Subway” Revealed – Not! (1992)
In post-Soviet 1992, Muscovites were intrigued (if briefly) by news of a brand-new secret subway system beneath their city.
The newspaper Moskovskaya Pravda – for one day rebranded as Moskovskaya Nye-Pravda (“Moscow Untruth”) – published a detailed announcement of an alternate metro network to supplement Moscow’s famed subway.
According to the report, this parallel underground would alleviate congestion, whisking people across the capital via hidden tunnels. The story ran with such earnest detail that some readers were initially fooled.
It didn’t take long, however, for the clues to surface.
The special edition’s very title signalled it was all in jest, and savvy readers caught on that Nye-Pravda was itself a prank publisher for the day. Later recaps noted that the stunt was “announced in a special edition titled *Moskovskaya Nye-Pravda – which translates as ‘Moscow Untruth,’ so readers weren’t too fooled.”
Indeed, the idea of a duplicate metro was pure fantasy – a playful nod to Muscovites’ love-hate relationship with their busy subway.
This April Fools’ caper by a Russian daily remains a quirky footnote in transit lore, reminding us that even serious news outlets can let loose once a year.
Emirates’ Triple-Decker “Sky Lounge” Plane (2017)
Dubai-based Emirates Airlines is known for opulence, making its 2017 April Fools’ prank brilliant and almost believable. Emirates unveiled plans for the APR001, a triple-decker superjumbo jet that would put even their Airbus A380 to shame.
This flying behemoth was said to include luxuries straight out of a cruise ship: an onboard swimming pool, a park with live trees, a games room, and a fully equipped gym across its three floors.
Concept images showed a cutaway of the aircraft with a pool and lounge on the lower deck. The name “APR001” itself was a sly hint (APR = April, 001 = 1st). The announcement was so elaborate that many were initially taken in.
Emirates posted it on their official channels on March 31, 2017 (to align with global time zones), and by April 1, the news had spread worldwide.
Al Arabiya and other outlets reported on the “triple-decker plane with a pool” reveal. Some aviation buffs smelled a rat when Emirates mentioned bookings would open on June 31 (a non-existent date).
Sure enough, at midday,y Emirates added a wink: it was an April Fools’ joke. Khaleej Times later noted, “It was an elaborate April Fool’s prank… Emirates revealed that ‘itineraries and bookings will be open from June 31’ and that the first flights would take off never.”
The prank was hugely popular, reinforcing Emirates’ image of sky-high luxury while entertaining the public. And for anyone disappointed by the fake news – well, Emirates’ real first-class showers and bar lounges are still pretty darn close to fantasy.
Southwest’s “Lost Bags Fly Free” Mic Drop (2022)
Southwest Airlines, known for its playful culture, kept its 2022 April Fools’ contribution short and sassy. Rather than a long hoax, Southwest went for a one-liner masterstroke on Twitter: “You want a joke? Bag fees.”
This mic-drop tweet poked fun at other airlines’ baggage fees and highlighted Southwest’s signature policy of two free checked bags.
In just a few words, they turned the expectation of a prank into a brand statement – implying the real absurdity in air travel isn’t an imaginary product but the all-too-real fees passengers pay elsewhere.
Travel reporters applauded the wit. The Points Guy noted, “Southwest Airlines did a simple mic drop April Fools’ Day tweet. The carrier is known for hijinks year-round and tweeted: ‘You want a joke? Bag fees.’”
It was on-message and timely, given how fee-weary travellers are. Some followers initially wondered if Southwest might announce a fake new service or plane, but instead, the airline cleverly reflected the joke back onto industry practices.
By doing so, they got people laughing and reminded them of Southwest’s selling point, all in one go.
It shows that an April Fools’ prank doesn’t have to be complicated; sometimes, pointing out the obvious (with a dash of snark) is enough. In an age of long press releases and videos, Southwest’s zinger stood out for its brevity and punch – a fitting finale in this list of transport trickery.
