Exhibit 12.1 UAL Corporation and Subsidiary Companies Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Three Months Ended March 31 1998 1997 ---- ---- (In Millions) Earnings: Earnings before income taxes $ 96 $ 171 Fixed charges, from below 229 232 Undistributed earnings of affiliates (20) (25) Interest capitalized (26) (24) ---- ---- Earnings $ 279 $ 354 ==== ==== Fixed charges: Interest expense $ 80 $ 69 Portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor 149 163 ---- ---- Fixed charges $ 229 $ 232 ==== ==== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 1.22 1.53 ==== ====