Other Car Rental Programs/Partners (ie. Alamo, Enterprise, Sixt) - Enterprise early morning return

I have booked a car from enterprise at LAX for a week. The problem is that I would be flying off from LAX on a 6.13am domestic flight on UA. I would be checking in luggage but Enterprise only opens at 5am for returns (I understand there is also the option for returning during non-opening hours). My question is will they open at 5am sharp? And will the early morning shuttle to the airport be a long wait (due to it being the 1st shuttle of the day)? Or would I be better off using the key drop service?

The key drop service for non-opening hours is at Westin which they mention that there is a complimentary shuttle, how often is this shuttle to LAX?

I would say get a hold of the direct line for that Specific location and call them directly...and try to get an answer from them...besides collecting answers from anyone who's been through your scenario before.
Google the location for the phone number.

That Enterprise will be open at 5am sharp, but that's still cutting it pretty close for LAX. If I were you I'd use the key drop. The Westin shuttle runs about every 20 minutes and stops at couple of other hotels on the way to LAX... maybe a 15 minute ride total. At that time of morning the shuttle will be pretty prompt.

I just re-read what time your flight is...Can you really get to LAX AFTER 5am and catch a 6:13 flight?
I've never flown through there but man that would seem to be cutting things quite tight if you are even considering getting to the airport much later than that...and you are thinking of doing a shuttle that hits other hotels...
Just thinking with my fingers here.
I just don't like cutting things that tight in case of any problems...like traffic or pokey shuttle drivers or others getting on the shuttle that are slow as molasses.

How far from LAX are you staying?

Could you drop it late the day before and cab it back to the hotel and then the airport? Yes, it's more $$$ but if you are not paying for the car for another day that could cover some of the cost.

-Dave

I stay quite a distance from the airport and dropping the car a day before is out of the question.

I stay quite a distance from the airport and dropping the car a day before is out of the question.

use the drop box... I've done it in Rochester, no problems there.

better safe than missing your flight due to shuttle/security delays.

--Russ

I think the real question is what is a major car rental company at LAX thinking by only opening for returns at 5 AM? The OP's case is surely not unique. There must be thousands of people departing LAX before 7 a.m. every day and for each of them, using Enterprise would be a hassle. Aren't most car rental places at major airports open 24/7?

I think the real question is what is a major car rental company at LAX thinking by only opening for returns at 5 AM? The OP's case is surely not unique. There must be thousands of people departing LAX before 7 a.m. every day and for each of them, using Enterprise would be a hassle. Aren't most car rental places at major airports open 24/7?

From what I understand, rental car companies care about arriving flights more than departing ones (returning the car). In most places (save maybe Hertz's MCO experiment and the potential of the kiosk if they put it in more airports), it is hard to start a rental without some counter staff. To close a rental via a drop-box is not a big deal for the companies since they don't give up any risk from what I can see.

Rasheed

To close a rental via a drop-box is not a big deal for the companies since they don't give up any risk from what I can see.

Rasheed

Well, they do risk losing customers. It's one thing to use an after-hours drop-box at an off-airport location. But if you're talking about a major airport, you generally have to take a shuttle bus to the terminal after you drop your car off.

In this case it appears that Enterprise has offered an alternative (using the Westin Hotel as a drop-off site, as well as their shuttle bus service) but ultimately this is an added hassle for their customers. Even opening 30 minutes earlier at 4:30 a.m. would be a step in the right direction.