Flying Out of Denver International Airport

Question

My husband and I have to catch an 8 am flight from Denver to Minneapolis on Sunday morning. We have to return a car to Hertz first. We flew in on Delta but are flying out on Sun Country. I've flown out of DIA a couple of times, but I am a little nervous about this because we have to return a car first. So I have some questions. We plan to leave our Airbnb at 5 am (about a 35 min. drive to DIA). I'm planning on dropping the car and catching the Hertz shuttle to the airport. Is that enough time? My daughter lives in Denver, so I'm well aware of the traffic issues, but I'm hoping early Sunday morning will be a good time to go. I'm also a little worried about finding Sun Country in the airport and getting checked in and checking our luggage, etc. If anyone can give me any advice about any of this, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

Answer

Catching an early flight out of Denver International Airport (DIA) with a car return at Hertz is manageable, but planning is key, especially when flying a different airline than you arrived on. Here’s a detailed guide to make your Sunday morning smooth and stress-free.

Timing and travel to DIA:

Leaving your Airbnb at 5:00 am for an 8:00 am flight gives you approximately 3 hours. DIA recommends arriving at least 2 hours before domestic flights, and early Sunday mornings typically have lighter traffic than weekdays.
The drive from central Denver or nearby neighborhoods is roughly 30–40 minutes without traffic. Early Sunday, you should be fine, but it’s good to allow a little buffer for unexpected delays.

Returning the car to Hertz:

Hertz at DIA has clearly marked rental car return areas with a dedicated shuttle to the terminal. Shuttle frequency is typically every 5–10 minutes, and the ride to the terminal takes about 5–10 minutes.
Plan about 20–25 minutes for the entire car return and shuttle process, including walking from the parking area and waiting briefly for the shuttle.

Checking in for Sun Country:

Sun Country flights operate out of Concourse C at DIA. Check the monitors at the airport for the exact location of the check-in counters.
If you have checked luggage, allow 20–30 minutes to check in and drop bags. If you only have carry-on, the process is faster.
Sun Country offers online check-in, so completing this ahead of time can save time and allow you to proceed straight to security if you only have carry-on.

Security and boarding:

DIA security lines are generally shorter very early in the morning, especially on a Sunday, but allow at least 20–30 minutes for screening.
Keep boarding passes and ID ready, and consider TSA PreCheck if you have it, which speeds up security.

Summary timeline for your Sunday morning:

5:00 am – Leave Airbnb.
5:35 am – Arrive at Hertz for car return.
5:35–5:50 am – Return car and board Hertz shuttle.
5:50–6:00 am – Shuttle ride to the terminal.
6:00–6:30 am – Check in and drop luggage (if any).
6:30–7:15 am – Pass through security and head to gate.
7:15–7:50 am – Wait at gate and board flight.

Tips for a smoother experience:

Pre-print boarding passes or have them on your phone.
Confirm Hertz operating hours and early Sunday service in case of any variations.
Check Sun Country’s baggage policies in advance to avoid surprises at check-in.
Consider packing carry-on only to save time if feasible.

With this plan, leaving at 5:00 am should give you plenty of time to return the car, catch the shuttle, check in with Sun Country, pass security, and reach your gate without stress for your 8:00 am flight.

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