Patrick

Other than driving, that is? We wouldn't need to be at Linate until mid afternoon.

HowardR

Take a cab or hire a driver.

Patrick

Thanks, Howard.

Is it too late to modify my question? Can I add ". . .that won't cost $100 or more?"

I was thinking of train, boat, bus combinations.

Intrepid1

One possibility: ferry over to Varenna. Train from Varenna to Centrale. Bus or taxi from Centrale to Linate. We've done it in reverse using a taxi from Linate to Centrale, etc.

HowardR

Patrick,
If you've got plenty of time and haven't taken a long ride on the lake, you could take the hydrofoil from Bellagio to Como and then a train from there to Milan. The express hydrofoil makes about 3 stops and takes 45 minutes.
Of course, the three-vehicle trip to the airport could take 2 1/2 to 3 hours even with good connections.
If I were you, I'd check into the price of a cab or driver. It might be worth it!