I think you miss the point. Trite as it may be, it's not about owing your parents anything, it's about having little time left to spend with them, which is awful if you love them. If you don't want to see them this tweet is not for you.
You missed _their_ point. If seeing you is so important why arent they on the hook for at least 1/2 of the visits (more so if they're rich and retired, ie it costs them relatively nothing).
Yes the author should do what he wants to do that maximizes his life utility (ie, go see them instead of doing lesser things). But also there's something about a relationship where the other person refuses to come to you, can't make the effort to travel, buy the plane tickets, or whatever their excuse is.
Though I most always travel to see my mother, one way she helps mitigates is she frequently buys my plane tickets. She won't fly, but if I'll make the time, she'll bear the cost-- so there's definitely can be negotiation... but if someone will only see you on their convenience, and your expense, I'd rethink the value of that relationship
