Spencer,

As I mentioned in my post before.

If you can rent with hertz for 1 day for some cheap price you could easily earn 22000 miles ( 20 times max ).
. Since you are short of 22000 miles. This way both the tickets would be booked together.
I am from pretty small place and could get 22$ for 2 day weekend rental at my place recently.

Even if your wife get card she will have to spend 22500$ extra to get those extra 22500 miles after 30000 card sign up bonus.

Wish you could have looked at FT before and taken advantage of 50000 sign up offer.

Dracs