I agree, it sounds like a special project, so just get business/first with Citi AA. Make it special. Won't be possible to be on the same flight for all of you, but, hey, you'll see a lot of each other on the ground. Just one personal and business Citi AA credit cards for each give you 100,000 miles, which is a free business or biz/first class ticket. Hey, push comes to shove (availability-wise), fly in couch and put wives in first.
And load up on hotel points as well. There are plenty of Hilton HHonors flying around. IHG too.