I am very interested in this, as I have never ever been charged (a) by QF at checkin for additional luggage - when involving a second carrier, and (b) never ever seen anyone charged for luggage at an AA drop point when tags are through checked. (and I am discussing additional baggage based on status - interesting what the ticket says)

(what a website might say vs practice is different, but agree that op should have CC handy and be prepared just in case).

Of course have seen AA collect fees as the computer says for the inbound, and the OP can make the decision whether to pay the large AA charge back to AU or take the risk and hassle of picking up bags at LAX, DFW or JFK, and paying a lesser fee.

And certainly of it was me, despite paying $$ for the flight would not see $200 as a rounding error, it is a significant piece of change that if I was OP I would prefer to spend on dinner or something else than donate to an airline.

I would probably avoid it all by loading up a carry on or two.

KF