I'm still here (literally and figuratively). UA GS rep got the Lx rep on the phone with us and said it would be no bags. Maybe at the airport it would have been a different story, but I was not in the mood to take the chance. After the lx rep disconnected, we discussed ways around it. There was saver from MXP to EWR but all EWR to ord flights were full. She offered to open space on the EWR ord segment to allow a change. It's not ideal since now I have to take a train from Florence to Milan and spend Friday in Milan instead of taking a train to cinque Terre, but there are worse outcomes. With the amount of wine I have, the baggage allowance is worth it.