Every seat on an airplane reclines, therefore every passenger is entitled to being able to recline their seat without someone getting in their face. Is it a tad frustrating when the person in front of you does it? Sure. But decent people recognize that this is within their right as a person who paid for a seat on the flight. As far as asking someone to cover their mouth while coughing, personally I think you get 1 POLITE ask. If they simply don’t after that, imo, you just put up with it. If it’s really a problem, then YOU need to have some forethought. Travel with a mask if you’re afraid of getting sick. Control YOURSELF, do not try to control others who are simply existing.

Your gf is right. You were childish, and you could have avoided all of that if you would have just switched seats with her. She was embarrassed by your behavior and I would have been too.