So this is not necessarily UA's fault because flying has just been a mess lately. But I wanted to relate my experience in case it helps people.

I flew YVR-ORD on UA on July 1. Party of 5. Flight scheduled to depart 2:00.

I checked our party in on my app, uploaded all proofs of vax, checked bags, etc. But two of my party require US visas, so the app said they had to show them at the counter. Fine, we'll get there early. I have no premier access.

Arrive at YVR 9:45. There's a check-in line dedicated to the SFO flight which is a short line because that flight is leaving soon. Same for DEN. Then there's a line for IAH which is craaaaazy long. No line for ORD. I stepped up to ask an agent where's the ORD line and she says it will open 3 hours before the departure, at 11:00. Ok, so we get in the IAH line and figure either we will join the ORD line or maybe make it to the front of the IAH line. When I was at the counter I saw the sign for the ORD line that presumably they would put up when they open the ORD line.

11:00 comes and goes, nobody opens the ORD line. We've made reasonable progress in the IAH line. An agent walks down the line and calls people for SFO and DEN, which are boarding, and a few people raise their hands LOL. Later we see that both of those flights were delayed to wait for all the people who didn't make it through on time.

About 11:45, no ORD line open, we get to the front of the IAH line. We check in and the agent really doesn't know what she's doing. She thinks we haven't checked bags (I did on the app) and checks them again without weighing them. Then she can't figure out how to let me have all the boarding passes on the app, so she prints them. Well, she prints 5 boarding passes. 2 for one member of our party, 2 for another member of our party, 1 for another member of our party, and 0 for the other 2 members of our party. When I point this out she asks if I am asking for our connecting boarding passes. No, we don't have a connection. I am looking for one boarding pass per person for each member of our party, and no duplicates. Ok, where are the passports for those members of your party? You're holding them in your hand. Show me on the screen whose boarding passes you want me to print. These two. Ok here you go sir. Can I give these duplicates back to you? No, you can keep them. LOL

Security and pre-clearance moved pretty steadily because the choke point was at the front counter. Even so, we got through at 1:10, and we barely had time to grab some food before boarding. Flight was delayed but only 20 min.

Wondering if all airlines and all airports are like this right now? Is it YVR? UA? Or just the unfortunate side effect of having to appear at the counter rather than doing everything on the app?

As a side note, the last time ORD was my destination rather than a connection point, they hadn't completed the multi-modal facility for car rentals that you can reach by the airport transit. That's pretty nice.