Several years ago it use to be clock work and AF loaded their award seats exactly 355 days out precisely at 5PM PST .... so if you knew that little secret I never not got the flights I wanted. ( always 2 BIZ seats)

That changed.

Now USA to CDG award seats are loaded closer to the industry standards of 330 days out and there no longer appears be a pattern. ( AS can't even book them more than 331 days out... several year ago they were able to book them at the 355 day mark)

That said, I agree to grab the less than ideal schedule and check everyday.(using ExpertFlyer or set one of their alerts). The chances are very good that seats will open up on the SEA-CDG flight usually several months before departure.

In the half dozen AF award seats I have procured over the last few years I have never not gotten the exact flights I wanted by just constant checking to see what was loaded each day.

P.S. Don't forget ORD.... although not ideal there always seems to be seats available through Chicago and at least you are not going the wrong direction..........