“if the date involved a plane ticket, the parents are in their rights to see if it’s in the ballpark. (Yes, I know. Shidduchvision!)”
Of course they do, even if it doesn’t involve a plane ticket. Checking if it’s in the ballpark is not the same as asking if this is the best possible match. I guess I’m living in a different world, one where if I had to ask my parents to pay for a plane ticket I probably wouldn’t consider myself ready to get married.