KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders wanting to see the All Blacks in action at the Rugby World Cup in Europe will have to move quickly as only about a dozen tickets are left locally.
The All Blacks' first game, against Italy, is in Marseille in three weeks.
About 5600 people have
bought package deals through the three official travel agents for the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
Tickets for semifinals and finals were available only through a ballot system, and were no longer available except from official agents.
Young and Lee Special Events manager Mike Owens said package deals had sold out, but the company could get extra tickets for last-minute buyers.
"We've bought additional tickets as we've gone along, and we're down to our last dozen tickets.
"They'll be gone in two or three weeks.
"We started selling at the beginning of last year and it's just gone off - sales have been astronomical."
He said he was expecting a let-down if the All Blacks faltered.
"If the All Blacks get knocked out before the final, I'm sure some Kiwi fans will be trying to offload tickets."
Package deals included 10-day trips over the semifinals and finals weekends for $7000.
The price of tickets to the final ranged from ¬101 ($193) to ¬498 ($950).
Williment World Travel director Duncan Garvie said most fans had got in early.
"We started selling 2 1/2 years ago, and finished selling 15 months ago," he said.
"We've got 2650 going to the final, and 2800 altogether. We had just under 13,000 tickets to all games.
"If we did have any left, it would only be one or two."
Flight Centre spokeswoman Melanie Pohl said demand for hotels in France had been higher than usual as people looked to add a few games into their Europe holidays.
"There has also been noticeable interest in Cardiff in time for the semifinal.
The All Blacks would probably be in the Cardiff semifinal on October 6 if they get through earlier rounds.
Go Holidays Sports & Events product manager Philippa Beams said her company was handling travel for about 1000 New Zealanders over a six-week period.
She had just returned from Paris and said cup fever was very visible, but would kick into overdrive in the coming fortnight.
Customers were expecting a lot of social nights, as her company's company packages featured dinners and other functions to coincide with All Black games.
Fans were "absolutely excited" at the prospect of partying all the way to an All Blacks victory in the final.
"We targeted people just to be together for two to three nights around the All Blacks' matches."
Though the tickets and package tours were expensive, "it will all be worth it ... if they're not in the third and fourth playoff game. We'll just have to hope like hell."
On the way
* About 5600 people are travelling to Europe on deals bought through rugby union-approved travel agents.
* New Zealand outlets have almost sold out of tickets for cup games.
* Demand is heavy for accommodation in France and Cardiff at the time of All Black games and their likely semifinal.