Try curbside check-in. It's free now, except for the tip - and check-in agents who expect a tip will do their best not to hassle you. Although I didn't test out the bag limits recently, I did notice that my 3P companion (on a different PNR) did get priority bag tags last time we checked in at curbside (but not when we checked in with an inside counter agent). She didn't get priority tags when she checked in alone.