About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Vancouver International (YVR) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Vancouver to Paris. Left side delivers the best views at both ends of the flight — the Fraser delta and Cascades on departure, and the Paris basin with the Seine on arrival. Over the mid-flight polar routing the views are largely ocean and Arctic ice regardless of side, so the departure and arrival phases determine the winner.
What can I see during takeoff from Vancouver International in Vancouver?
During takeoff from Vancouver International (YVR), sit on the Left side for the best views. YVR's primary departure runway 26L sends aircraft westward over the Strait of Georgia before turning north. Left side seats face south toward the Fraser River delta, Richmond's grid of farmland, and the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Range stretching into Washington State. As the aircraft banks northeast for the transatlantic routing, the left side picks up the Coast Mountains and Mount Baker. Notable sights include: Fraser River delta and estuary, Mount Baker (Washington State), Cascade Range foothills, Strait of Georgia.
What can I see when landing at Charles De Gaulle in Paris?
When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Left side for the best views. CDG typically uses runways 27L/27R for westerly arrivals or 09R/09L for easterly arrivals. On the common westerly approach, aircraft track in from the east over the Paris basin. Left side seats face south and pick up the Seine river bends, the dense urban fabric of central Paris, and on clear days the Eiffel Tower and La Défense cluster are visible to the south before touchdown. Notable sights include: Seine River bends through Paris, La Défense business district towers, Eiffel Tower (distant), Marne River valley.
How long is the flight from Vancouver to Paris?
The flight from Vancouver International (YVR) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.
What does the Vancouver to Paris flight path pass over?
The great circle route from YVR to CDG tracks northeast over British Columbia, crosses Hudson Bay or northern Quebec, passes over southern Greenland's ice sheet and coastal fjords, crosses the North Atlantic, then descends over the UK or northern France into Paris. Key features include the Canadian Rockies briefly on departure, Hudson Bay's vast grey expanse, Greenland's ice cap and fjord coastline, and the patchwork farmland of England or northern France on descent.