With Auto Europe, it seems they charge the same price for a car, no matter where you return it. So I'm thinking about renting a car at LHR and returning it to SOU.

Originating at LHR can be a miserable experience for an AA elite. Does anyone know what the experice is like at SOU? Is there a BA lounge at SOU?

One more factor: I will have a very early flight out of SOU. The rent-car website says their office is closed at that hour, but you can still return a car. Presumably they have some kind of lock-box. Does anyone have experiences to share with returning a rent-car in England when the office is still closed? Also, at SOU do you get to/from the terminal via bus, and if so, does the bus still run even if the rent-car office is closed?

Thanks for any help!