I just got this email:

Dear Mr Flying Buccaneer,

Thank you for contacting Northwest Airlines in regard to upgrading your
WorldPerks account, xxxxxxxxx.

A variety of criteria, including information from your American Airlines
mileage summary, is considered when evaluating requests from members to
match elite status from another airline. After reviewing the
information provided to us on your AAdvantage account, your Northwest
WorldPerks account has been upgraded to Platinum Elite status. This
one-time complimentary membership upgrade will remain valid through
February 28, 2009.

The email went on to say that the status will be extended through the 2009 program year, as it was for skywalkerLAX and lucky9876coins.

The past few years, I have split my travel between AA and UA. I flew more on UA in 2004-2005, pretty equally in 2006, and more on AA in 2007-2008. For 2009, UA will be the odd man out, so to speak.