-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 rPYsjq1RUJnh1qyOmtIdPA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001017990-03-000005.txt : 20031205
<SEC-HEADER>0001017990-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031205152248
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001017990-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031205

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UAL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000100517
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED [4512]
		IRS NUMBER:				362675207
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 ALGONQUIN ROAD
		CITY:			ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477004000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		JOHN LAKOSIL - WHQLD
		STREET 2:		1200 E. ALGONQUIN ROAD
		CITY:			ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60007

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALLEGIS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880613

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870517

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TIERNEY PAUL E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017990

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06033
		FILM NUMBER:		031040259

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 66100 WHQLD
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60666
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477004000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 66100 WHQLD
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60666
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-04</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000100517</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UAL CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UAL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017990</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TIERNEY PAUL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P O BOX 66100 WHQLD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60666</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35816</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4832</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Price range of securities sold was:  27,316 shares at $1.395; 5,000 shares at $1.40 and 3,500 shares at $1.44.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Mary Jo Georgen for Paul E. Tierney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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