TofinoGuy....
I live in Vancouver and will be starting in May 2015. The cheapest and most time effective way I have found is to fly Air Canada either thru Toronto or Montreal to Paris and take either the train or plane to Biarritz /Bayonne. If you book before midnight tonight, Air Canada is having a European seat sale. British Airways will fly you from YVR to LHR and then transfer you to CDG, but the timing is really bad and you really end up losing a whole day.
I've looked into other airlines... AC is the only one arriving first thing in the morning, 8:30 via TO or 9:30 via Montreal. Going thru London is a direct flight, but then you have the hassle and extra expense of flying to Paris or to Biarritz. From what I can see, the cost to fly into London vs. Paris is negligible, the only difference being the layover time and the convenience of already being 1/2 way there if you fly into Paris. Madrid is way more costly for the time I'm looking at.
Hope this helps! - I'm on the websites all the time looking for myself.. if you give me your exact dates, I can plug it in for you.. I don't mind and can keep watch. The fares right now are the lowest I've seen since I started looking in late June. I myself am going to treat myself to the premium economy class, just for the much needed extra legroom. Its about $170 each way difference, but I figure I'm worth it. Message me with your details if you so choose!
Cari
ps.. will be visiting your neck of the woods in late October