I can see too many questions here that would make this impractical, especially:
1. What happens if the ship owner/pilot isn't online when the "event" begins?
2. If they are online, what's to stop them taking fees for the service and then not providing it?
3. How would you handle multi-stop services?
Agreed
That said, if a good way to do something like this could be worked out, from the passenger's perspective it would be good to streamline the experience and make it more efficient, because when I look at this...
…as a (potential) passenger, rather than a Mothership or Privateer owner, this doesn't ring true at all. For me, the number one reason why I very rarely use scheduled warps nowadays is because by the time I've got to the location where the ticketseller is, paid my fee, made sure I'm ready to be summoned, got called up, waited for multiple summons to pick up more passengers, waited for unspecified reasons why we can't leave immediately, slowcoached out of the safezone, been diverted from the expected route to other locations because someone paid for a VIP trip alongside the scheduled one (this in particular is totally infuriating and extremely bad customer service), had to wait for other scheduled drop-offs at locations I'm not going to, etc etc...
OK, some of those things might not happen on every trip, or only now and then, but almost every time it takes, for one reason or another, for-fucking-ever, and by the time I've done all that I could have already been there in my own quad, at whatever the hell time I want.
I never (except maybe two or three times in very small amounts) take lootables between planets, so all I want from a scheduled warp is speed and convenience, and I very rarely get either. The aim, I think, behind the OP, is to provide better speed and convenience, so I would love it if there was a way for that aim to be achieved. I'm not convinced that this is it though.
Probably what we really need is for someone to step up and run a better and more efficient service than those we've seen previously, but perhaps that's too difficult or impossible to achieve with the current system, or we'd have seen it already.
There are currently 2 basic warp services in EU
VIP. Immediate and Fast but Costly..but only available if a pilot is on-line and at correct planet (or may cost more for double warp)
Scheduled warps..you know when, you know where and it's cheap
Slower but generally much cheaper
You the customer can choose. But just like RL don't get on a bus and then complain it wasn't a chauffeur driven limo.
There are also other considerations rather than just price and speed
1. Equus, if pilot is available at the planet you are on
and your total weight low enough and NO lootables this is probably quickest option
They may however get delayed/shot by pirates especially if weight near upper limit.
Price typically 20-25ped per warp ( I am sure we will see corrections if I have this wrong)
2. Privateer/Mothership VIP warps. These are generally pretty immediate as VIP warps are generally 1 customer 1 warp. Or you and a friend if you want to share. (tho teams and multiples can be accommodated by agreement)
Dearer than a scheduled warp
Generally a little dearer than an equus, but if the ship has good SI or if passenger chooses to log out, then safer for those with loots
Price Generally 20-30ped (correct me if you know otherwise)
3. Scheduled warps (usually a mothership). Scheduled warps are not about speed of transit so much as security and safety. Think bus service rather than the taxis above.
Yes they may offer sphere as well as SS, and yes that will cause a delay
Yes they may use a spammer and may incur delays if customers turn up at last minute, are new to space flights and need more explanations.
As regards VIPs on scheduled warps I can only comment re KISS. Only rarely would a VIP be slotted in to our schedule, and this would generally be a situation such as one of our frequent fliers who got caught in traffic on way home and missed us, and where we have no privateer available at that time
Prices vary but 7-10 ped seems to be the average
So between the various ship types and services customers have a range of choices and can pick that which suits their needs best. If you want speed and don't mind the expense...go VIP
If you want cheap, moderate speed and good security, then so long as there is one in your time zone you can opt for scheduled warps
Make sure you know who you are flying with and that they have a good reputation. Make sure the summon is for the correct ship. Make sure you have the destination planet downloaded. Please, please don't go for a smoke, to feed the kids or walk the dog. A warp takes a couple of minutes, waiting on passengers to come back from afk can delay everyone.