No more paper certs for making status before qualifying period ends

I made 2011 Elite for third consecutive year on Dec 4-10. Picked benefits today after finally receiving email. Spoke with AP to fix an account issue and also learned that I cannot use 2011 eupgrades until March 3, 2011. In previous years, I received paper certs for that expired end of Feb. I Have travel planned end of Jan but have no way to upgrade.