My upcoming itinerary: SFO-YVR paid Air Canada ticket in Y. Then YVR-LHR on Air Canada on award ticket in J issued by United MP. I have 2 hours in YVR to make the connection.

I had to buy the SFO-YVR segment as no award space showed up. But I thought that by buying an AC ticket I'd be in good shape re: baggage. Think again!

I was told by Air Canada phone rep. that upon arriving at YVR I'll have to claim bags and re-check them at the Air Canada counter in the main terminal to check in for the LHR flight, then do security. She said AC might be able to print my LHR flight boarding pass in SFO to save a bit of time. In other words AC cannot check my bags through to LHR on two separate tickets, even though both flights are on Air Canada.

My fear is that with only 2 hours any significant delay from wx, immigration/customs/security lines at YVR I'd miss the LHR flight and AC won't rebook me as they are two separate tickets.

FWIW: I arrive YVR at 4 p.m. on a Friday. I've never been to YVR.

QUESTION: How might I be able to get AC agent at SFO check-in to check the bags through? Thank you in advance. I'm already sweating bullets thinking about this 'connection'. In quotes because the AC phone rep. said it wasn't a connection - understand that re: the two separate tickets. Still. It's 2017.