Thanks for the tips. The return is in Jan 2022, the Passport expires on Feb 2022. So if I don't apply this trip is not threatened, but any followup trip will likely be so.
A far cry from when I renewed 3-4 years ago. 10 days turnaround with no expedite fee.

So I guess the best course of action is to do nothing, return on the old passport (still valid for 3 more weeks after return) and file for an expedited new passport and hope to get it within 5-6 months.