Common practice at many hotels in areas which have volume early AM intl. arrivals. In neither Asia nor Europe would I expect freebies. If check-in is at 2:00 PM, a kindly clerk may clear you at 1:30. But, 5:00 AM is 9 hours early and that's 40% of a day.

Same thing the other way around with midnight and later departures. Don't expect a courtesy "late" checkout.