If either of you are able to hit the minimum spend, then you could apply for the Chase Ink Bold and/or the Sapphire card. These yield 50,000 after a minimum spend of 3k or 5k each, so 100,000 combined.
These 100,000 points can be used to partial pay a ticket and equates to $1250 ($625 per 50,000).
Then wait to find a low cost J ticket.
I got my 50,000 points for each card in one billing cycle and used them for a J flight to Venice.