I saw this thread before andony responded to it and then took a step back. I had an awful feeling about this.
Kind of an "Oh no, he didn't REALLY just ask that, did he?" Some people just don't know whats appropriate, it seems.
I would'nt even ask my closest friends for something like this. I would be ashamed to ask them, there is ALWAYS another option. Unless you owned nothing but the shirt on your back, I guarantee you could come up with enough money to get a 2 way ticket to see a dying relative.
This also gives me insight as to how you feel about family. I would bend over backwards and do anything in my ability to see a close relative who I may never see again. If paying for a flight meant I ate ramen for 2 months, i'd make it happen, hell, i do that when I just need a car repair or something simple.
I take pride in accompishing things on my own, or working my way out of a tough situation, some people would rather just ask anyone to do it for them. Sad.