Exhibit 12.1 UAL Corporation and Subsidiary Companies Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Nine Months Ended September 30 1997 1996 ---- ---- (In Millions) Earnings: Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item $1,472 $ 937 Fixed charges, from below 728 820 Undistributed earnings of affiliates (20) (40) Interest capitalized (75) (57) ----- ----- Earnings $2,105 $1,660 ===== ===== Fixed charges: Interest expense $ 213 $ 230 Portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor 515 590 ----- ----- Fixed charges $ 728 $ 820 ===== ===== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.89 2.02 ===== =====