-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q6I2PBS35WZV7b6RJumT8kWjOB1/qyA5lZD+tc/foJhKgdB2UX+hPJjso4yqcS7c
 hHfWpUysUXX9r3O1CwnX+A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001017976-04-000001.txt : 20040603
<SEC-HEADER>0001017976-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040603151051
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001017976-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040603

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:			HACKER DOUGLAS A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017976

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06033
		FILM NUMBER:		04847048

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017976</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HACKER DOUGLAS A</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP - Strategy</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16888</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Michael Serafini for Douglas A. Hacker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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