The flexible date search feature for awards on delta.com searches for Delta-operated flights only, even though Air France and KLM are also searchable by date. This means your online searches are skipping some really time efficient routings, like SFO-CDG and LAX-CDG non-stops.

If you want to search for yourself the Flying Blue search engine (www.airfrance.us) is typically very proficient at searching from AF and KL's N. American gateways to their destinations in Europe. For 60K you should be looking for Economy Classic awards. Otherwise, just call Delta and ask for a low award LAX/SFO to the destination cities you mention, checking routings on Delta, AF, KLM, Air Europa and Alitalia. Whatever you find with Flying Blue, redeeming Delta miles means booking through Delta.

Denolloyd's thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ss-awards.html

works for coach awards, too, and is authoritative in outlining techniques demonstrated successful.

(added)

A quick search finds this for two at 60K/person

Dep 6/1/2011
Alitalia 621 LAX 3:25PM arrive Rome 12:15PM +1

Dep 6/14/2011
KL 1596 dep Rome 6:20AM arrive AMS 8:50AM
KL 601 dep AMS 9:50AM arrice LAX 11:50AM