I have to book a couple of CDG-YVR trips in the next few months and wanted some advice from the experts about booking strategies. Mr. Canuck and I are planning a trip in June and another in late July to Vancouver from Paris (where we live). We want to stop in Toronto on the way back from Vancouver, but don't care whether we connect in Montreal or Toronto en route to Vancouver. And, because we've got to make several of these trips in the coming months, we've got to do them relatively cheaply (although not so cheap as to fly a discount carrier). It seems that there is an Aeroplan miles bonus for booking online, but it doesn't seem possible to book stopovers on-line through the AC website (unless you book the trip as multi-city, which seems to generate outrageous prices). I also read somewhere recently on this forum that some of the YYZ-CDG flights might be sold this summer as all Economy, but with full fare and E/SE passengers having a shot at getting seats in the J cabin (but with Eco service). Any truth to this rumour, and, if so, is it best to telephone the Elite contact line to try to book the flights?

Any advice on the pros, cons and strategies for booking these flights online versus through the Elite contact number would be appreciated. Thanks.