BF and I fley home 12/11. We were on United/Ted. We walked in, saw the HUGE line for check-in and checked baggage, turned around, walked right back out, and gave our bags to the sky cap. He checked us in, gave us our boarding passes and claim checks in about 30 seconds. We then just headed to security, which I think we waited maybe 10 minutes for. It seemed like a really long line, but it moved quickly. From the time the limo droped us off to the time we sat down at the gate was maybe 25 minutes, including taking the tram to our terminal.
Sure, it costs you a few dollars in tips, but using the sky cap cuts your time waiting in lines in half! Money well spent, if you ask me! I don't know why more people don't do it!