the whole travel / claims situation was not so flexible by the time I retired in 2009
It was usual for the nav radar on a tanker crew to be the imprest holder on overseas trips. Even as early as 1974 payment by credit card was normal in US hotels so checkout usually produced a few comments from receptionists who weren't used to seeing large amounts in cash, as I handed over a bundle of $100 bills to settle our crew's account.