<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-31</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000948845</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MIDWEST EXPRESS HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196937</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERGSTROM JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BERGSTROM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>150 NORTH GREEN BAY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEENAH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54956</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>22500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1710</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By trust for child (Timothy)</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-31</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>1693</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>3.90</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>17</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By trust for child (Elizabeth)</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>675</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By trust for child (Chris)</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>5600</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By Plan</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Receipt of shares deferred under the Issuer's 1995 Stock Plan for Outside Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anthony C. Intravaia, Attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

