just my 2 cents' but YVR to CDG is on AF and it isn't that good, they have 2-3-2 seating so way different then going through seattle and taking DL 1-2-1 if you find a better routing on the outbound though, def better to use cash IMO.
and little thing I have no idea when are you suppose to fly but i suppose still some time away. AS let you get credit voucher for NO fee if it is longer then 30 days or something away from the day of departure instead of DL charging you a change fee so you can eliminate that cost and use it some other time
and you can always persuade them telling them now you wanna pay for your ticket and i am sure a supervisor may waive the fee for you since they gonna make more cash