Thanksgiving Transportation: Patience Needed

Thanksgiving is next week and much of the pre-Thanksgiving chatter has been all about supply chains and transportation—or, in other words, getting the food on the table and the people around the table.

Supply chain issues have been hitting the fresh food industry, due to delays and struggles to get products from farms to store shelves. This is causing certain Thanksgiving staples to have a steeper cost and potentially less stock.

Finding a Thanksgiving turkey has been a concern for some. However, farmers say there are turkeys out there, it’s just a matter of getting them to the right places at the right time.

Cranberries are another staple facing supply chain issues, with the CEO of Ocean Spray saying, “My advice is to be absolutely flexible. Whether it’s jellied, whole, or fresh cranberries.”

On the passenger side of the coin, a new report states that Thanksgiving flight bookings are exceeding 2019 levels. This is a significant rebound from low holiday travel during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic and prices are closely following.

This busiest travel weekend of the year coincides with the November 22 vaccination deadline for federal workers—including those who work for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While TSA has been focused on getting workers vaccinated, the potential for staffing shortages resulting in longer security lines remains a concern for now.

Those renting cars at the airport or at other locations can expect to pay more. The shortage of critical semi-conductor chips has meant a shortage of new vehicles and fewer cars in the rental fleets. Despite higher costs, including spiking gas prices, AAA is expecting around 48 million people to travel to their destinations by car.

If you plan to travel this year, AAA recommends if you still need to book anything to do so as soon as possible, plan your departure time, get your car checked before you leave, give yourself extra time, and above all—be patient. While some of the circumstances may not be ideal this holiday season, there’s still much to be thankful for!