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Christmas in Paris

Christmas in Paris
Christmas in Paris
via Air France Business and La Première
December 2025

Off to Paris... via Vancouver

Today I’m off the Paris for my annual Paris Christmas fix and dinner with friends. I chose Vancouver-Paris as Air France is operating their gorgeous new A350-900 with new Business Class seats.  But first, an Air Canada positioning flight.  

And once again, I'm reminded of how much I despise this airline, from years ago living in Montreal.  Why make it easy to anyone to get a digital boarding pass?  Despite all the proper documentation on my reservation, I was forced to check-in with an agent before heading all the way back to security.  A normal, sane airline would do a doc check at the gate.   But I disgress.

 

The only good thing about flying Air Canada is that they operate from the A concourse, so I can walk and don't have to take the stupid DIA train.  

Time to relax in the Capital One Lounge.

Air Canada A220.

Denver DEN to Vancouver YVR
Air Canada AC 575
A220
8:45am-10:50am
December 14, 2025
Cost: 45,000 orphan Aeroplan miles
 

First top is de-icing where we are the only customer this morning. 

Air Canada breakfast omelet.  Hasn't changed in 50 years.  lol

 

Lounge Hopping at YVR

Welcome to sunny Vancouver!  lol

After a long, long, long airside walk, I'm in International Departures, without having to do immigration and additional security. 

First stop is the SkyTeam Lounge, to see if it is any better than my last visit a couple of years ago.

Nope, same old meh.

Time to explore other options.  The Cathay Lounge would be nice, if it was open and if I was flying One World.

A few minutes later, I'm at the Plaza Premium Lounge.

Excited to try Plaza Premium FIRST, the upgraded lounge experience.

CAD 30 gets Priority Pass members into FIRST.

Very nice and uncrowded.

And great tarmac views.

Both buffet and order from the menu options...

Yummy Short Rib Paella off the menu.

And Butter Chicken from the buffet,

My gorgeous A350-900 arrving from Paris and taxiing to the gate.

Relaxing watching the end of the exciting Bills-Patriots game.