Originally Posted by
lhrsfo
Your debit or credit card should be contactless if issued in the last year or two. If not either order an Oyster in advance from TFL or queue at LHR to buy one.
N.b. some payment cards issued outside the UK, espcially in the USA, may not work for contactless travel (i.e. as an oyster substitute) - even if the do work for contactless payment when purchasing tickets or topping up oystercards at machines.
http://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments...on-this-page-1
Also, people should be wear of overseas transactions fees. Check what their card charges.