"People I know are currently planning large scale exercises with no idea how rates/actuals will be administered.."
If its an exercise why aren't they staying in barracks or in f-ing tents. Any wonder that the Army, Navy and Marines think the RAF are a bunch of workshy clowns who think that staying in a decent hotel is more important than providing a quality service. If half the money spent on Club-class flights and hotac was spent on getting the aircraft configured properly for use on operations, the RAF would at least be able to hold its head high...