Exhibit 12.1 UAL Corporation and Subsidiary Companies Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Nine Months Ended September 30 1998 1997 ---- ---- (In Millions) Earnings: Earnings before income taxes $1,173 $1,472 Fixed charges, from below 731 728 Undistributed earnings of affiliates (53) (20) Interest capitalized (82) (75) ----- ----- Earnings $1,769 $2,105 ===== ===== Fixed charges: Interest expense $ 265 $ 213 Portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor 466 515 ----- ----- Fixed charges $ 731 $ 728 ===== ===== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.42 2.89 ===== =====