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What's a 'Napcab?' Only Just One of the Awesomest Things at Munich Airport

Where: Munich, Germany
March 14, 2012 at 10:13 AM | by | Comments (2)

You're tired, you're cranky, you're on a layover with no access to the swanky airline lounges. What to do? If that layover is at Munich Airport in Germany, there's these things called Napcabs you should be tracking down.

Napcabs are what they sound like—prefab boxes installed in the airport terminal that contain basic beds and work desks. You purchase time in them (between 3-12 hours!) using a touchscreen menu and your credit card. They are very similar to the Yotel and Day Stay concept of quickie, in-terminal capsule rooms, just now minus the restrooms and minus any need to deal with another person. Plus, they being at the not-too-shabby rate of 10 Euro an hour.

Napcabs have been at Munich Airport, in the international departures area of Terminal 2, since at least 2010. The news now is that they've just expanded to the Schengen departures area as well, putting four more next-gen cabins up for use.

Not at Munich? Keep a look out the very similar "Sleepbox" modular units in Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport. Here's hoping other airports get hip to the trend soon, because if there's one thing we love almost as much of flying out of airports, it's grabbing some much-needed work and rest time in them (in comfort, of course).

See full rate breakdown, location and hours of the Napcabs here.

[Photos: Napcab]

Comments (2)

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Nice idea...

but what about the people who want to get a little frisky in the airport? At least it looks like they get fresh linens after each use. @theangryskittle

Fraud?

Had an overnight flight via Munich some days ago (March 07/08). The airport was exceptionally noisy in the middle of dead night (the cleaning staff shouting and screaming, their machinery making noise, etc) so I could not sleep on the bench and decided to take some hrs (altogether approx 3,5 hrs) off in one of the napcabs. Although, as it turned out, this was a big mistake. Checked in and out as appropriate, entered my data for invoice, and the latter arrived correctly to my e-mail. The total sum on the bill was 34.50 euros. During some next 1...2 days the prebooking amount 100 euros was steadily booked at my credit account. I thought / hoped that this is temporary and will be released sooner or later. However, right now, visiting my internet bank, discovered that eventually the whole 100 euros had debited (yes, debited - not just pre-booked anymore) from my credit account. Despite the fact that the actual bill, as said, was 'only' 34.50. Don't know (and care) whether this is any kind of mistake / technical failure, or intentional robbery - doesn't really matter for me, both options are absolutely reprehensible and unacceptable. Right now, just in case WARNING all possible future prospects from using these napcabs - you may eventually pay several times (in my case almost 3 times) more than you were supposed to. So think twice (or more) whether it's really worth visiting it (and taking a risk - perhaps charged correctly, perhaps incorrectly) or not. Already tomorrow (i.e. immediately) start to investigate what are the available proceedings (on EU level, if necessary) for me to get my unjustly charged money back. Hopefully there is still some chance...

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