UAL Corp., which filed for Chapter 11 on Dec. 9, is asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Illinois to approve payment of a $50,000 fee to Gavin Anderson & Co. The United Airlines parent also is seeking the Court's nod to pay the Omnicom unit a $15,000-a month fee, plus expenses.

Robert Mead, the PR firm's president, has been counseling United and Rosemary Moore, who joined the airline as senior VP corporate affairs in November.

United also wants to pay management consultant McKinsey & Co. a $1.5 million monthly fee to help plot its survival plan as a leaner full-service carrier.