A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
This seems to be the rule, although in the past I believe that there were reports of the legendary Mr. Pinto helping out by providing a workaround. Note that it also takes a few days after March 1 for the status to become effective, so this can be a problem for someone traveling around then.
It's worse now with GUCs required to be flown, and not just confirmed (as for SWUs), by their expiration dates.