Originally Posted by Jackolee

I very much agree. To me:
- By eliminating the arrival lounge, the only 'extra' lounge benefit to me as GO diminishes. SLs can also enter the lounges at outstations when travel with CX/KA. I'm seldom on domestic travels within US and Australia (let alone those like S7/RJ/MH destinations), so lounge access to partner airlines may not be a big deal to me. The only possible benefit in this regard may be QR lounge access even in Y...?
- Chance of op-ups is almost the same for SL & GO members based on my experience (even more op-ups when I was SL a few years ago for the same travel pattern).
- Don't know if it's a new practice, you become non-existent on board. No greeting to GOs in Y and everyone is greeted in F/J, no matter which status you're at.

In this way, it seems that there is no point to pay the premium to maintain the GO status. I'd better hunt for the best bargain offered by no matter OW or *A airlines and keep the minimum points for SL which is much easier to fetch. Perhaps few people here like me have this feeling triggered by the closure of the arrival lounge!