Sorrt to hear, I have travelled with wife and
son early August to Madrid and 10 days prior departure had seat for same day I intended, on return had to delay 3 days to have confirmed, but I signed in as stand-by for my intended date, 4 days prior departure they contacted me and confirmed over the phone 3 seats for my stand-by date. You always can use miles to buy a 50% discount ticket of the lowest possible fare, and these seats are available to full aircraft capacity, in other words same as full fare.
Be a bit more possitive, and if what to have a S.A.B.E.N.A. (SO.A.BAD.EXPERIENCE.NEVER. AGAIN.) TRY AMERICAN!!!!! Your miles would have expired by now.
Best luck in you trip to Italy