Strikes, rain and snow pose challenges during record Thanksgiving travel week

Some 80 million people are set to take to the roads, railways, skies and even cruise ships this week, each making trips of more than 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday.

With storms, snow, delayed flights and industrial action all expected in what could be the busiest holiday travel period on record, Americans set out in hope rather than expectation of stress-free journeys this week.

Two major storm systems may bring travel chaos to much of the country, dumping rain and snow across communities and major cities. Already, 17,000 flights have been canceled or delayed because of severe weather across the country since Friday.

The FlightAware website's real-time air travel tracker — its so-called misery map — showed just 110 delays and four cancellations early Monday, with Boston the worst affected transport hub. But much more disruption is expected later Monday and through the week.

To make matters more difficult for some, service workers at North Carolina's Charlotte Douglas International Airport walked off the job at 5 a.m. Monday, having voted to strike Friday. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) said it planned to put an "end to poverty wages" and demand "respect on the job during the holiday travel season."

The striking workers are ABM and Prospect Airport Services employees, whose tasks include cleaning planes and assisting passengers in wheelchairs. Workers there were also on strike in May.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/weather-thanksgiving-travel-week-rcna181591

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