Airline won't refund terminally ill man

TAMPA, Fla. (NBC) - A Florida man says he bought an airline ticket to see his daughter in New Jersey, then found out he has terminal cancer.

"Two weeks after I bought the ticket, I found out I was terminal," said Meekins. He says doctors advised him not to travel.

Jerry Meekins says he asked Spirit Airlines to refund his ticket, but the airline refused.

"I offered them all of the confirmation from my oncologist, from hospice, even my pre-paid funeral package. They didn't want to look at any of it or hear about it. They just wanted to keep the money," said Meekins.

Spirit Airlines sent NBC a statement, saying in part:

Our reservations are non-refundable, which means we don't do refunds and we are not going to issue Mr. Meekins a refund.

An airline spokesman says the airline offers low cost travelers insurance that covers a variety of unexpected circumstances and says it wouldn't be fair to bend its policy for one and not all.

Meekins says at this point it's not really about the money. He's more interested in seeing Spirit Airlines make a change that benefits everyone, but he's running out of time to get that done.

Friends of Meekins heard what happened and stood outside Tampa International Airport with signs of protest.

Meekins says he has received numerous offers of help, including several people who have offered to drive him to New Jersey.