We have booked United Airlines award travel from the US to Rome. I need to purchase one way tickets from Rome to Catania, Sicily. My husband and I will each have a large suitcase under 50 lbs. Will we need to go through passport control and customs and pick up luggage at Rome international arrivals before we head to domestic terminal for trip to Catania? These are separate airline tickets. If our plane lands at 8:10 am how much time will we need to make it to domestic terminal for Alitalia or other regional airline. Any suggestions on low cost airlines that allow one large checked bag and book seats next to each other. The Alitalia airfare Is $254 per person, which seems high. Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheap Flights with low cost, charter and other airlines: find cheap air tickets or www.skyscanner.net - see what airlines fly that route. Can you also fly to Palermo or other airports if cheap?

The problem you have is the unpredictability of events. We have sailed through immigration in Rome a number of time around an hour. A couple years ago it was close to three hours on a Saturday morning. Then there is the possibility that the flight is cancelled or late. Last year we lost a ticket just for that reason. In 20+ years of International flight have never had a flight cancelled. A few delayed but never cancelled. We had given ourselves a six hour window but lost the ticket since we arrived two days later. In the future will probably plan an overnight but that would not have covered either in this situation. I would give yourself at least a four hour window or more.

Yes, you will go through immigration and custom in Rome. Then check in and security again.

When we were in Rome on a Sunday in April just going between terminals on the same airline (Alitalia) we had to go back through security and the line was very long. Took about 45 minutes just for the "in transit" security. Luckily I headed straight to our gate and we had just enough time for the line. My husband got off our flight and wanted to shop! Later he thanked me. I would leave a good three hours in between flights.