I flew last night on CO 503 LAX-EWR with my GF. It is an 1130pm departure and we were in 3EF on a 757-200 so BF seats. I was already pretty tired and after boarding and getting situated reclined my seat about half way and put my leg rest up. There were already two people in the seat behind me.

It was just after 11 PM and a fairly full flight boarding through Door 1. About 10 minutes after I nodded off but about 10 minutes before scheduled departure a FA woke me to tell me I needed to put my seat up. I gave an "I know" thinking he meant once the door was closed but seeing I hadn't reacted he said, "Now, Sir" in a demanding tone.

I told him previously I had always been able to recline until pushback, and he simply replied "You are not allowed to recline your seat on the ground."

I will add when we boarded I went back to the Door 2 area to hang my garment bag (as I anticipated a Door 2 disembarkation at EWR) and this same FA seemed put out at the request. Perhaps I got off on the wrong foot with him. I noticed a couple other people had reclined as well, but not as far as me.

I felt sorry for the pax across from me who after hearing the FA make me put my seat back up also did so (although he wasn't asked). He then fell asleep in an upright position and didn't wake up until landing at EWR.

Anyway, is this truly a rule when sitting at the gate or just a moody FA?